Kings Road Bridge in Schenectady reopens after 10 months

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Kings Road Bridge reopened Wednesday after being closed for repairs for about 10 months, Mayor Gary McCarthy said. The bridge was closed on Jan. 29 for a complete replacement.

The bridge was built in 1960 and connects the city of Schenectady to the town of Rotterdam. In 1997, repairs were done but in 2017, the bridge was found to be structurally deficient.

In 2022, the King’s Road Bridge was on the list of Capital Region Bridges rated in “poor” condition by the Department of Transportation. The new bridge features a concrete sidewalk for pedestrians along with new bike shoulders and lighting features.

The bridge replacement project was part of the 2016-2021 Transportation Improvement Program, and the new bridge was designed in 2018 by CHA Consulting Incorporated, McCarthy said. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had halted the project.

In May 2023, Winn Construction was awarded $5.3 million for the reconstruction. The project, however, didn't start until Spring of 2024 to allow continuous work, without winter stoppages, McCarthy said.

Closing the road in January was a precautionary measure, he added. When the bridge closed, a detour along Highbridge Road, Albany Street, Route 7 and Interstate 890, was posted on the town of Rotterdam's Facebook page.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday morning to honor the replacement and opening. "It will prove to be a valuable asset to the community for years to come," McCarthy said.