This week, EnTech joined the New York City Department of Design and Construction (NYCDDC), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYCDPR), Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, and other local officials and community representatives to break ground on a $41 million project to reconstruct the Tide Gate Bridge, located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
The Tide Gate Bridge (also known as Porpoise Bridge) carries Meridian Road over Flushing Creek. Built in 1938 in order to dam the creek and control tides affecting the park, the bridge sits atop a hydraulic control system comprising tide gates and sluice gates. These devices regulate the flow of the creek between Flushing Bay to the north and Meadow Lake to the south. However, the current system is out of date, and the bridge has sustained damage from years of severe weather, including Hurricane Sandy.
The project will replace the bridge’s existing deck with a new, wider deck. The existing flood control structures will be replaced with modern, automated stainless-steel tide and sluice gates and a new hydraulic control system. To improve pedestrian access, the bridge’s sidewalks will be extended on both sides and equipped with ADA-compliant ramps. The control house for the new gate system will be relocated to a new elevated platform. The project also includes roadway repaving and replacement of utility lines built into the bridge.
EnTech is leading resident engineering inspection (REI) services for the project. The firm will coordinate construction and inspection activities, monitor contractor work for quality, safety, and adherence to the project design, and serve as the NYCDDC’s representative on-site. EnTech is additionally providing extensive virtual design and construction (VDC) services in support of the project, including laser scanning, 3D and 4D modeling, and renderings and visualizations.
“This renovation of Porpoise Bridge [Tide Gate Bridge] will be a welcome addition to Flushing Meadows Corona Park, which is already the crown jewel of our borough’s park system,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The addition of ADA-compliant ramps and other improvements will enhance the experience of all the park visitors who use this historic span.”
“The Tide Gate Bridge plays an important role in helping to regulate the flow of Flushing Creek and the volume of runoff from highways surrounding Flushing Meadows Corona Park,” State Senator John Liu stated. “Unfortunately, years of severe weather have taken a toll, so we’re happy to see the city prioritizing the renovation of this grey infrastructure, which serves as a critical juncture between Flushing Bay and Meadow Lake.”
Photo Credit: NYCDDC
