Denton Avenue Bridge Aesthetics Reflect Character of Original Structure

August 1, 2022: Mayor Cosmo Veneziale welcomed special guests at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, August 1, 2022 to mark the re-opening of the newly replaced Denton Avenue Bridge. Seven bridges have been replaced or upgraded along the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville as part of the Metropolitan Transportation Agency (MTA) / Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Third Track Expansion Project. Tanners Pond Road and Denton Avenue were closed to vehicular traffic back in January. The new bridge, which remains a one-lane thoroughfare with bi-directional traffic, was put into place in late April. The bridge has been raised from 12 feet 9 inches to 14 feet, the national standard.

"Today marks an historic day with the re-opening of the Denton Avenue underpass, as was the day the Denton Avenue bridge was constructed more than 100 years ago," Mayor Veneziale said. "Cooperation between the Village of Garden City and the LIRR made this reconstruction possible."

The new roadway features improved traffic control measures, an ADA-compliant sidewalk, additional connectivity to the newly reconstructed Merillon Avenue station with improved access to the north and south sides of the station from the Denton Avenue sidewalk and Nassau Boulevard bridge.

The Mayor expresses his deepest gratitude to Village Administrator Ralph Suozzi, Garden City Building Superintendent Giuseppe Giovanniello and Garden City Senior Civil Engineer John Borroni, P.E. for working with him on the redesign of the Denton Avenue underpass and Bridge details, as well as 3TC Project Executive Alan Paskoff. "This is the first phase of the restoration of our Village impacted by the LIRR Third Track Expansion Project. Let's continue to work together for the residents of Garden City," the Mayor said.

Long Island Rail Road Interim President Catherine Rinaldi, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and State Senator Kevin Thomas were among the local dignitaries who joined the Mayor at the event.

"Now that Denton Avenue is reopened to traffic and enhanced with sidewalks for pedestrians, Garden City residents will be able to take advantage of all of the upgrades at nearby Merillon Avenue station and all of the expanded Main Line service that will be available by the end of the year," Ms. Rinaldi said. "The Third Track team made a herculean effort to create stations and infrastructure that are critical to service upgrades while maintaining the beauty of the Denton Avenue Bridge and green spaces that surround it."

Village officials ensured the aesthetics of the new bridge reflected the character of the original structure, which has been in service since 1944. The new underpass wing walls are built with the original 100-year-old granite blocks. The granite blocks were repurposed by 3TC and Granite Works per Mayor Veneziale's direction after much discussion. Further, the enhanced landscaping plan is well underway and discussions are ongoing with the LIRR as to the lighting of the Merillon Avenue station. The new large specimen trees and shrubs will provide screening and sound attenuation of train traffic once it resumes pre-COVID service levels.