Replacement of 14th Avenue Bridge Begins
Part of a 5-Span, $60 Million Revitalization to Spur Economic Growth
Mayor Signs Pact with Metro North to Speed Project by 18 Months
On the day the replacement of Mount Vernon’s 14th Avenue Bridge began, Mayor Richard Thomas announced an agreement with Metro-North Railroad to replace two additional bridges — 18 months faster than originally scheduled.
Officials gathered at the 14th Avenue Bridge on Monday as the 10-month demolition and reconstruction of the span began. A total of five bridges over Metro-North’s New Haven line are set to be replaced for a total of $60 million in coming years, easing traffic and sparking development.
“No city is better positioned to take advantage of the ongoing surge in Transit-Oriented Development than Mount Vernon with its three Metro-North rail stations, the most in Westchester County,” said Mayor Thomas. “This new plan with Metro North will accelerate growth and prosperity for Mount Vernon, the county, and the region. My thanks to Metro North for its continuing partnership.”
Under the new timetable, Metro-North will advertise contracts to replace the 6th Avenue and 10th Avenue Bridges this year. Work on both bridges would begin simultaneously next year, once the replacement of the 14th Avenue Bridge is complete.
Work on the 10th Avenue Bridge is expected to take longer because it is more complex, requiring Metro-North to temporarily support a Con Edison high voltage feeder line in place during construction. This feeder is a key component of Con-Edison’s regional infrastructure. Nonetheless, the two bridges are expected to be completed in July 2021, 18 months sooner than the initial plan, which was to have each bridge built separately.
In addition to the faster timetable, the new plan eases pressure on Mount Vernon’s finances, giving the city additional time before its $5 million portion of the project is due.
For Metro-North a key benefit of the agreement is that it allows the railroad to continue the momentum on its capital plans and not get delayed waiting for Mount Vernon’s financial approval process.
Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said: “We are pleased to support the renewal of the City of Mount Vernon’s infrastructure. Rebuilding the 14th Avenue Bridge will benefit the local economy, enhance public safety and help uplift the city’s quality of life. Our thanks to local, state and federal representatives for understanding the importance of funding these projects.”
The agreement was signed on May 4, 2018 by Mayor Thomas and John Kennard, Metro-North’s Vice President for Capital Programs.
“I am pleased to see this project move forward at a more expeditious pace,” Congressman Eliot Engel said. “Over the years, I have worked to secure federal dollars for Mount Vernon to be able to fix, repair and replace the crumbling infrastructure we see in the bridges over the MTA tracks. In order for Mount Vernon to maintain a competitive edge in the 21st century, we must continue to commit to replacing of the 14th, 10th, and 6th Avenue Bridges. I applaud the Mayor and the MTA for coming to this agreement.”
Mount Vernon is ideally situated for Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Two examples are 22 South West and the Enclave, whose easy access to train stations promotes walkable, mixed-use communities. Next to the Mount Vernon West station, 22 South West is a mixed-use building that will rise 17 stories, providing 176 units of affordable housing.
In April, the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Agency (MVIDA) provided final approval for this $71 million project, which will create over 300 construction jobs. The Enclave at Fleetwood will have 179 market rate housing units, which are being developed at 525 and 645 MacQuesten Parkway, one block away from the Fleetwood MetroNorth rail station.
“Thanks to Mayor Thomas’s business friendly policies, hundreds of millions of dollars of capital is being invested in the city’s TOD housing stock and discussions with other developers for future units are underway,” said Eileen Mildenberger executive director of the MVIDA.
