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Jefferson Avenue Bridge Reopens With Improved Safety, Water Flow

MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Mayra Cortez can once again walk her two young girls to ballet class on the corner of Jefferson and Mamaroneck avenues without having to walk around construction and through Columbus Park. 

Jefferson Avenue Bridge is open to traffic after a nearly two-year replacement project.

Jefferson Avenue Bridge is open to traffic after a nearly two-year replacement project.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly
Mayra Cortez goes to an exercise class after dropping her daughters off at ballet.

Mayra Cortez goes to an exercise class after dropping her daughters off at ballet.

Photo Credit: Brian Donnelly

After nearly two years the Jefferson Avenue Bridge reopened Tuesday evening.

The bridge opened with new stop signs on north-bound Van Ranst Avenue at Jefferson Avenue Extension and on east-bound Jefferson Avenue Extension at the intersection of Van Ranst Avenue.  The village is still considering adding another stop sign for westbound traffic at Van Ranst Avenue.

Village Manager Richard Slingerland said this will increase safety on the road. He and Village of Mamaroneck Police Chief Christopher Leahy recommended the new traffic signs.

The Jefferson Avenue parking lot at the intersection of Van Ranst will immediately reopen to permit parking for commuters with village RP permits. However, portions of the lot will temporarily close to finish striping, landscaping and overall restoration.

Extra parking meters will also be installed on Jefferson Avenue Extension, in addition to those that had previously been there and have been replaced.

While the reopening pleased many residents, it will also allow for future flood mitigation projects to take place. The Jefferson Avenue Bridge replacement will improve water flow by removing the center bridge abutment and widening the span of the bridge.

Another flood abatement project would, if approved and funded, extend the bridge abutments four feet deeper, allowing for future dredging and channelization of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake rivers. The Village of Mamaroneck and Army Corps of Engineers project would need approval from the federal, state, county and village governments.

The $3.5 million Jefferson Avenue Bridge replacement project was co-funded by the village, Town of Rye and a $400,000 grant from the state Dormitory Authority. 

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