Road Bridge Replacement Hungry Hollow

Originally built in 1955, Hungry Hollow Road Bridge overpass was one of the lowest bridges on the busy New York State Thruway I-87/I-287 corridor. At 14 feet 2 inches high, it was deemed a safety concern after experiencing several vehicular strikes. Since its latest strike in 2017 by a truck a foot-and-a-half over the maximum height, the bridge was restricted to one lane for alternating traffic.

As part of a 36-month Term Agreement with The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA), McLaren Engineering Group provided engineering services for the replacement design of the bridge over I-87/I-287 in Chestnut Ridge, NY, raising it to 16 feet 6 inches. Although the Thruway is under state jurisdiction, the local roads belong to Rockland County, so the two entities worked together to route traffic around construction zones for the $555,000 replacement.

The McLaren Difference: Applied Ingenuity

As the Prime consultant, McLaren provided bridge and highway design services for the replacement of Hungry Hollow Road Bridge (BIN 5514060), located at mile marker 24.62 on the NYS Thruway. The 34-ft wide bridge with 12-ft travel lanes, and 5-ft shoulders and sidewalk now utilizes a two-span continuous superstructure with high abutments and a median pier.

This new structure is in the same alignment as the old bridge, shifting the centerline slightly to avoid ROW impacts. Road approaches were reconstructed at each end to accommodate its new height, and the original two piers that touched the NYS Thruway were removed to accommodate future expansion efforts.

McLaren provided cost estimates, design of the superstructure and substructure and project control surveys, ROW survey and mapping, geotechnical investigation, permitting assistance and engineered a form liner for the abutments–creating an esthetically pleasing rock face on all sides of the bridge.

Due to the replacement road bridge being constructed in a high traffic area, McLaren engineers designed temporary SOE for the removal of the pier and the abutments. Temporary 11 ft lanes were placed on the NYS Thruway to make room for the pier wall during construction. After construction was complete the regular 12-foot lanes resumed. McLaren also provided recommendations for a temporary steel pedestrian bridge that was put in place while construction continued.

This is the first of three replacements as part of the $30 million Thruway overpass project in the Town of Ramapo. McLaren is also working on the Scotland Hill Road and College Road overpasses.