Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge
(Mohawk River Bridge, Dunsbach Ferry Bridge, Twin Bridges)
NBI Information
Location
State: New York
County: Albany County
Feature Carried: I-87 NB and I-87 SB
Feature Crossed: Mohawk River
Latitude, Longitude: 42.7923,-73.7619 (NB), 42.7921,-73.7621 (SB)
Toll: On free road
Maintenance Responsibility: State Highway Agency
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open, no restriction
History
Year Built: 1959
Historical Significance: Historical significance is not determinable at this time.
Year Reconstructed: 2012 (NB), 2013 (SB)
Picture Date: July 20, 2023
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 3
Lanes under Structure: 4
Skew: 0 degrees
Number of Main Spans: 1
Main Structure Type: Arch - Thru
Main Structure Material: Steel
Number of Approach Spans: 6
Approach Structure Type: Girder and Floorbeam System
Approach Structure Material: Steel continuous
Condition
Inspection Date: November 2022 (NB), December 2021 (SB)
Deck Condition: Very Good
Superstructure Condition: Good (NB), Satisfactory (SB)
Substructure Condition: Good (NB), Satisfactory (SB)
Channel Condition: Excellent (NB), Very Good (SB)
Culvert: Not Applicable
NBI Year: 2023
Note: This bridge is actually two separate twin structures, one for Northbound Traffic and one for Southbound Traffic.
Bridge Information
The Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge, also called the Mohawk River Bridge, the Dunsbach Ferry Bridge, and the Twin Bridges, carries Interstate 87 across the Mohawk River. It is actually an identical pair of twin through arch steel bridges.
The construction of the Northway was authorized in 1955 and is a 176-mile highway from Albany to Canada. These bridges were built as part of that contract and were completed in 1959. This bridge received the Most Beautiful Bridge award by the American Institute of Steel Construction. In 1961, the highway was formally inaugurated as Interstate 87.
The bridges were rehabilitated in 1976. They were rehabilitated again from 2012 to 2013. This project included replacing both of the bridge decks and the approach slabs using lightweight precast panels. The project also included a full replacement of the suspender cables. The asphalt overlay was removed in 2017, and it was replaced with a PPC overlay.
There are two bridges in NY that are named in honor of Tadeusz Kościuszko. The other bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in NYC. Kościuszko moved from Poland to Philadelphia in August of 1776. He became a notable military leader throughout the Revolutionary War and attained the rank of general. He returned to Poland in July of 1794 where he fought for Polish freedom.
References
Bridges and Tunnels: https://bridgestunnels.com/location/thaddeus-kosciusko-northway-bridge/
Fort Miller Precast: https://www.fortmiller.com/project/bridge/thaddeus-kosciusko-bridge-twin-bridges/
Bridge Consulting Technology: https://kmbtc.com/portfolio-item/mohawk-river-bridges/
Quick Bond Polymers: https://www.kwikbondpolymers.com/project/twin-bridges/
