Castleton Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Castleton Bridge is a cantilever truss bridge over the Hudson River
that carries the Berkshire Connector of the New York State Thruway
. This bridge is also sometimes called the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge and is situated in close proximity to the Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge
, which is used by rail traffic.
The Castleton Bridge is located on the longest section of the New York State Thruway that does not have an Interstate Highway designation, between interchanges 21A (Interstate 87
) and B1 (Interstate 90
). There is a $0.60 toll each way to cross this bridge. It is not collected at a separate toll barrier, but is rather collected as part of the Thruway's ticketed toll system
. It costs at least $1.05 to cross ($1.00 with an E-ZPass
discount), by traveling between Interchange 22 and Interchange B1 on the Thruway. It is the northernmost road bridge on the Hudson River with a toll and is the only bridge with a toll in both directions; every bridge south of this has an eastbound-only toll.
.
In May 2007, the bridge carried 14,500 vehicles per day. NYSDOT
, FHWA
and NYSTA have discussed potential strategies to divert peak hour traffic traveling along Interstate 90 between Interchange 24 and Interchange B1 to the Castleton Bridge to reduce traffic volumes on the Patroon Island Bridge
in Albany
.
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
that carries the Berkshire Connector of the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
. This bridge is also sometimes called the Castleton-on-Hudson Bridge and is situated in close proximity to the Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge
Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge
The Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge is a railroad bridge spanning the Hudson River at Castleton-on-Hudson and Selkirk, New York in the United States....
, which is used by rail traffic.
The Castleton Bridge is located on the longest section of the New York State Thruway that does not have an Interstate Highway designation, between interchanges 21A (Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) and B1 (Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
). There is a $0.60 toll each way to cross this bridge. It is not collected at a separate toll barrier, but is rather collected as part of the Thruway's ticketed toll system
Ticket system
A ticket system toll road A ticket system toll road A ticket system toll road (also known as closed toll collection system, as opposed to a flat-rate toll road, is utilized by some state toll road or highway agencies that allows a motorist to pay a toll rate based on the number of miles traveled...
. It costs at least $1.05 to cross ($1.00 with an E-ZPass
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
discount), by traveling between Interchange 22 and Interchange B1 on the Thruway. It is the northernmost road bridge on the Hudson River with a toll and is the only bridge with a toll in both directions; every bridge south of this has an eastbound-only toll.
History
The bridge was built in the late 1950s, and opened May 26, 1959 to coincide with the opening of the final 6-mile segment of the New York State Thruway's Berkshire Section connecting to the Massachusetts TurnpikeMassachusetts Turnpike
The Massachusetts Turnpike is the easternmost stretch of Interstate 90. The Turnpike begins at the western border of Massachusetts in West Stockbridge connecting with the Berkshire Connector portion of the New York State Thruway...
.
In May 2007, the bridge carried 14,500 vehicles per day. NYSDOT
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
, FHWA
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
and NYSTA have discussed potential strategies to divert peak hour traffic traveling along Interstate 90 between Interchange 24 and Interchange B1 to the Castleton Bridge to reduce traffic volumes on the Patroon Island Bridge
Patroon Island Bridge
The Patroon Island Bridge is a major crossing of the Hudson River in Albany, New York. The bridge carries Interstate 90, in the east-west direction, over the Hudson River between Albany and Rensselaer Counties....
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
.