Work has commenced on the $38.2m Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge rehabilitation and resiliency project in the US state of New York.  

The bridge over the Hudson River links the Albany and Rensselaer counties. 

This initiative marks the final phase of the state Thruway Authority's efforts to restore the over one-mile-long blue cantilever truss bridge. 

The latest project on the Castleton-On-Hudson Bridge is now in progress, with the initial stage involving the construction of two crossover areas for a traffic shift scheduled for early 2025.  

Additionally, preparatory work beneath the bridge has commenced. 

The Thruway Authority secured a $21m federal grant in April 2023 to fund part of the project. 

This grant was awarded as part of the US Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration Bridge Investment Program, following the Thruway Authority's 2022 application. 

The bridge, which opened in 1958, links the Berkshire Spur to the mainline Interstate 87 (I-87) and facilitates traffic over the Hudson River and Schodack Island State Park.  

Standing 135ft above the river, the bridge comprises 43 segments and spans more than 364,000ft² of concrete decking. 

New York governor Kathy Hochul said: “The Biden-Harris administration understand the importance of investing in infrastructure to boost and maintain economies, both locally and across the country. 

“The Castleton Bridge is among the thousands of bridges in New York crucial for transporting people and goods. I appreciate the Thruway Authority and our federal partners for their support and efforts toward modernising our transportation system.” 

In early 2025, eastbound traffic from the Thruway mainline I-87 to the Berkshire Spur will be rerouted to the westbound lanes to allow for the removal and replacement of the eastbound bridge deck.  

The project also includes safety upgrades and structural repairs. 

DA Collins Construction, based in Wilton, New York, has been appointed as the contractor for the bridge project after a competitive bidding process.  

Work is expected to extend until mid-2026. 

Over the past three years, the Thruway Authority has invested roughly $85m in the restoration of the Castleton Bridge. 

The latest announcement comes after construction on the deck replacement of the bridge was completed in August last year.