Midtown Bridge, Steel bridge in Hackensack, United States.
The Midtown Bridge is a steel structure spanning the Hackensack River and connecting the communities of Hackensack and Bogota in Bergen County. The span carries traffic on two main streets and serves as a crucial link between the two riverbanks.
The structure was built in 1900 as a movable swing bridge for the Bergen County Traction Company, originally connecting trolley lines to ferry service toward Manhattan. In 1984 the bridge was converted to a fixed structure, ending its ability to pivot for river traffic.
In 1980 the bridge was designated the Ryan Memorial Bridge for Bogota resident and U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant William C. Ryan, killed in action in Vietnam in 1969 and listed as missing in action. It was re-dedicated as the Lt. William C Ryan (USMC) Memorial Bridge on April 21, 2018.
The bridge carries Salem Street between Hackensack and Bogota; the rebuilt span reopened on April 20, 2018. It was closed for replacement from March 16, 2017, so check current county road notices before crossing. The 1984 rehabilitation fixed the swing span in place and removed its machinery, so no opening for boats occurs.
The swing span was last opened for a vessel on February 4, 1978; during a 1984 rehabilitation it was fixed in place and its machinery removed. As of 2014, Coast Guard rules still required the draw to be made operable within 12 months of notification by the District Commander.
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