MANAGING THE EAST RIVER BRIDGES IN NEW YORK CITY

ANTI-ICING INITIATIVE
On the basis of the recommendations contained in the aforementioned FHWA Special Maintenance Review, the City began
to explore anti-icing alternatives to sodium chloride (salt). Initial efforts, in cooperation with the New York City Department
of Sanitation were less than satisfactory. The Department of Sanitation, which is responsible for snow plowing and salt
spreading, throughout the City of New York, was reluctant to change years of entrenched snow and ice fighting methods.
The City Department of Transportation eventually took control of these activities, on the East River Bridges, in an effort to
implement anti-icing methods as recommended in the FHWA review.
To date these activities have been significant. Foremost of these have been the in-house development and implementation of
the Fixed Anti-icing Spray Technology (FAST) system on a portion of the Brooklyn Bridge. Designed and installed by the
Bridge Maintenance Unit of the New York City DOT, an automated sprinkler system delivers potassium acetate over a
portion of the eastbound roadway of the Brooklyn Bridge. Further expansion of this automated anti-icing application system
is expected in upcoming contracts. ITS technology will be integrated into this system to further enhance its value.
Additionally, the City is using specially equipped spreaders for the application of salt substitutes on the other East River
Bridges.
STAFFING
Prior to 1938, the maintenance of the East River Bridges was under the auspices of the City Department of Bridges. During
this time up to 200 workers were responsible for the maintenance of the Brooklyn Bridge, alone. By 1938, 435 workers
maintained 50 waterway bridges, in New York City, including the East River Bridges. By 1987, organizational changes and
restructuring, within the City of New York, had reduced the influence of those overseeing these bridges. Thus by this time,
160 workers oversaw maintenance of 1426 State and City bridges in New York City.
In various reports relative to the need for establishing a preventative maintenance plan for the East River Bridges, including
those already mentioned, the need for restructuring and adding additional staff was consistently established and
recommended. In the aforementioned 1996 FHWA Special Maintenance Review, not only was an increase in staffing levels
for maintenance personnel recommended, but also increases in staffing of engineering and inspection personnel associated
with the Preventative Maintenance Program for the East River Bridges was strongly encouraged. To that end, FHWA
funding has been made available to fund increased staff levels for those maintenance personnel involved in the cleaning and
lubrication of the suspension cables on the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges.
To date the structure of the City Department of Transportation has been revised to provide an Executive Director of
Preventative Maintenance. Assisting this individual is a Deputy Director for the East River Bridges PM program and one for
a Winter Plan. Structures have also been established for an In-House Specialized Maintenance section and a PM Contract
Supervision section. See the attached flow chart on the following page for more information.
DESIGN FOR MAINTENENCE
An innovative feature common to all 4 rehabilitations is the requirement that a bridge-specific maintenance manual be
prepared by the consultant and implemented by the owner upon the completion of the work. Items, such as painting, oiling,
cleaning, etc, are identified with their recommended frequency and respective cost. Plans prepared for the various phases of
rehabilitation are also subject to peer review. Plans are reviewed by other design consultants to ensure that elements
incorporated into the rehabilitation can be effectively maintained under preventative maintenance contracts
COSTS OF PM PROGRAM
As previously mentioned, a stand-alone preventative maintenance contract currently is in place for the Brooklyn and
Queensboro Bridges. This three-year contract is for approximately $9 million. Preventative maintenance contract work on
the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges have been incorporated into existing rehabilitation contracts and amount to
approximately $3 million per year per bridge. With additional costs for anti-icing efforts, cable cleaning and lubrication and
inspection staff a total of approximately $12 million is being outlaid each year for the preventative maintenance program for
the four East River Bridges.