The bridge was formerly bidirectional, but converted to one-way operation southbound on August 5, 1941 on the same day the Willis Avenue Bridge was similarly converted to one-way northbound.[3] In 1955, the original multi-truss bridge constructed in 1898 was removed and sold.[4] A rebuilt bridge reopened in December 1956.[5]
Reconstruction
Bicyclists on the new bridge in 2010
As part of a major NYCDOT reconstruction project from 2001-2005, a new swing span was floated into place on October 29, 2004. Two lanes of Manhattan-bound traffic opened on December 6, 2004, and the remaining three lanes opened in 2005. In addition to replacing the swing span and its machinery, the project included redesigned approach ramps to the bridge on the Bronx side and off the bridge in Manhattan. As reconstructed, the Third Avenue Bridge carries five lanes of Manhattan-bound traffic from the Bronx, which split to three ramps in Manhattan: to East 128th Street and Second Avenue; to Lexington Avenue and East 129th Street; and to FDR Drive.
For 2011, the New York City Department of Transportation, which operates and maintains the bridge, reported an average daily traffic volume of 59,603; the bridge reached a peak ADT of 73,121 in 2000.[6] Between 2000 and 2014, the bridge opened for vessels 93 times, including 60 times in 2007.[7]
On July 8, 2024, during the 2024 North America heat waves, the bridge suffered from heat expansion and got stuck in the open position, so vehicles could not cross it. The New York City Fire Department sprayed water onto the bridge to cool it down.[8]
Public transportation
The Third Avenue Bridge carries the M125 bus route operated by MTA New York City Transit. The route's average weekday ridership is 19,951.[9]
TV documentary
Discovery Channel contracted Barner-Alper Productions of Toronto to produce an episode of Mega-Builders, titled "Spanning the Harlem", about the work leading up to the float-in of the swing span.[10] It first aired in 2005 in Canada on Discovery Canada.[10]
