Dunn Memorial Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunn Memorial Bridge |
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The Dunn Bridge from Albany
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| Coordinates | 42°38′35″N 73°44′51″W / 42.643136°N 73.747551°W |
| Carries | 8 lanes of   US 9 / US 20 NY Bike Rte 5 NY Bike Rte 9 |
| Crosses | Hudson River |
| Locale | Albany and Rensselaer, NY |
| Official name | Private Parker F. Dunn Memorial Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Dunn Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | New York State Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 1093029 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Steel girder bridge |
| Clearance below | 60 ft |
| History | |
| Opened | 1969 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 36,000 |
The Dunn Memorial Bridge, officially called the Private Parker F. Dunn Memorial Bridge, is a large bridge that crosses the Hudson River. It connects Albany, New York and Rensselaer, New York. This bridge carries two important roads, US 9 and US 20. It was finished in 1969. The bridge is a steel girder bridge design. It is also the southernmost road crossing of the Hudson River that doesn't charge a toll (meaning it's free to cross). The bridge is named after Parker F. Dunn. He was from Albany and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War I.
Contents
What is the Dunn Memorial Bridge?
The Dunn Memorial Bridge is a vital link for travel in New York. It helps thousands of cars cross the Hudson River every day. The bridge is an important part of the local transportation system.
Bridge Design and Construction
The Dunn Memorial Bridge is a steel girder bridge. This means it uses strong steel beams to support the road. It was built to replace an older bridge with the same name. The construction was completed in 1969.
The Unfinished End
If you travel east on the Dunn Memorial Bridge towards Rensselaer, you might notice something interesting. The road seems to end suddenly. There are "stubs" where the bridge was supposed to continue. This is because the bridge was originally planned to be part of a bigger highway. This highway was called the South Mall Expressway. It was meant to go all the way to Interstate 90. However, the rest of the highway was never built. So, traffic is now directed off the bridge onto other roads.
Nature Under the Bridge
Under the eastern side of the bridge, you'll find Rensselaer's Riverfront Park. This area is home to some amazing birds. Since 1998, Peregrine falcons have been seen nesting under the bridge. These are very fast and powerful birds. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation even set up a webcam to watch them. This helps scientists learn more about these fascinating birds.
Bridge Repairs and Maintenance
Bridges need regular care to stay safe. On July 27, 2005, the Dunn Memorial Bridge had a problem. A ramp leading to the Empire State Plaza cracked. This caused a part of the road to drop more than a foot. The ramp was about 89 feet (27 meters) tall. It had slipped and was resting on a concrete support. A person driving over the gap called the Department of Transportation. Workers quickly installed two steel towers to hold up the ramp. The ramp was then repaired to make it safe again for traffic.
Images for kids
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The Greenbush Bridge can be seen in the background of this image, which preceded the Dunn Memorial Bridge.
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The stubs at the bridge's eastern end, built for the canceled South Mall Expressway.
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This is a cross section of the unfinished eastern portion of one of the sides of the Dunn Memorial Bridge.
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The supports for the unfinished end of the Dunn Memorial Bridge.
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The surface and structure of the unfinished end of the Dunn Memorial Bridge.
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The Dunn Memorial Bridge from the unfinished Rensselaer, NY side heading to Albany, NY.
