MT. VERNON, N.Y. — A three-year project to overhaul and replace four bridges spanning a cut over Metro-North’s New Haven line in downtown Mount Vernon has been concluded.
An Aug. 10 ribbon-cutting featuring newly appointed acting Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber and Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi signaled the speedy completion of construction begun after the 121-year-old bridge near the Mount Vernon station was demolished beginning in April 2020.
“This bridge reconstruction, completed in less than 16 months, shows the MTA’s determination to stay right on schedule when we make commitments to local communities,” Lieber said “And there are many more projects to benefit Metro-North riders in the works, now that our $51.5 b illion 2020-24 Capital Program has been un-paused and is picking up steam.”
Completion of the 3rd Avenue Overhead Bridge was preceded by three other projects: the 14th Avenue Bridge reopened on July 3, 2019; the 6th Avenue Bridge reopened Sept. 12, 2020; and the 10th Avenue Bridge reopened on June 2, 2021. The MTA replaced the Park Avenue/1st Avenue Bridge in 2011.
I believe for a long time the third rail has been extended to the east closer to New Rochelle. I rode over that section about 5 years ago and the changeover did not take place at the old Woodlawn location.
That picture wasn’t taken in Mt. Vernon. The third rail is part of the old New York Central’s Harlem Division (now Metro North’s Harlem Line). The New Haven Line diverges from the Harlem line in the Woodlawn neighborhood of The Bronx, at which point New Haven trains cut over from third rail to catenary. Mt. Vernon is beyond that point and therefore under wires.