BRONX W www.BXTimes.com EEKLY December 23, 2018 12
Part of the dismantled City Island Bridge, which was taken out of service in 2015, will become an artifi
cial coral reef off of the coast of Long Island. Schneps Community News Group / Patrick Rocchio
New life: City Island Bridge
steel, concrete to bolster reef
BY PATRICK ROCCHIO
Part of the old City Island
Bridge that served
the community for over a
century is getting a second
life.
The NYS Department
of Environmental Conservation
is using some concrete
and steel from the
former bridge, which was
decommissioned in 2015,
to expand an artifi cial reef
located on the Hempstead
Reef in the waters off Long
Island.
Under the guidance of
DEC, and as part of a New
York state effort to expand
marine wildlife for a richer
and more diverse underwater
ecosystem, 47 steel
caissons that are 34 feet in
length that once supported
the City Island Bridge were
deployed to the underwater
reef.
“These concrete and
steel bridge materials will
enhance the local marine
habitat and fi shery populations,
benefi tting both anglers
and divers frequenting
New York’s artifi cial
reefs,” said Basil Seggos,
DEC commissioner, of the
latest addition to the agency’s
Artifi cial Reef Program.
Seggos said that NYC
Department of Transportation
and Tutor Perini,
the contractor who deconstructed
the 1901-era
bridge and built its modern
replacement, collaborated
“in helping to secure these
materials for an innovative
and creative use that
would have otherwise seen
them end up in a landfi ll.”
Barbara Dolensek, City
Island Civic Association
vice-president, said that
the residents she spoke
to were pleased by DEC’s
plan.
“Everyone that I spoke
to is glad that the City Island
Bridge is being put to
some good purpose,” said
Dolensek, adding “they are
pleased to hear that they
are not just throwing the
bridge away.”
Tommy Breen, who
along with his brother
James Breen, made a documentary
fi lm about the
bridge reconstruction
called ‘The New City Island
Bridge,’ also was supportive
of the idea.
Breen said that much
of what is being used in
the artifi cial reef, including
pilings and large box
beams, were installed as
part of a major renovation
of the turn-of-the-20th century
bridge that took place
approximately 45 years
ago.T
hese materials supported
the bridge’s foundation,
he said.
Breen said that the reuse
of these materials for
an artifi cial reef puts them
to a benefi cial use. Based
on his knowledge it is diffi -
cult to separate integrated
materials like these for recycling.
Another factor that contributed
to the reef project
was that the materials
were already on a barge.
“It is going to help wildlife,
so why not do it,” he
said.
Putting the super structure
portion of the bridge
in the reef would probably
not be an option because
it might contain remnants
of lead paint that could be
damaging to the environment,
he said.
Paul Mankiewicz, a biologist
who lives on City
Island, said that the artifi
cial reef created by the
bridge will improve the
sea environment because
organisms that are part of
the food chain will grow on
them.
He also believes similar
structures can be reused
in other innovative ways.
“We should really look
at these kind of things to
protect the coast,” he said,
adding similar reused materials
could be repurposed
as barriers that divert or
slow down water surges
caused by major storms.
TWO ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH HOMICIDE
Police have arrested two men in connection with a homicide at Bainbridge Avenue
and East 194th Street. According to police, Obed Admez and Mario Almonte were
arrested on Sunday, December 16 for their alleged involvement with Angel Reyes-
Godoy’s death. Police offi cers from the 52nd Precinct responded to a report of a
vehicle collision at Bainbridge Avenue and East 194 Street on Monday, December 10
at 5:58 p.m. Upon arrival, police offi cers discovered Angel Reyes-Godoy, a 17-year-old
Fordham resident, with severe head trauma. EMS transported Reyes-Godoy to St.
Barnabas Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. An investigation revealed
that a 2009 Ford E-250 ambulette was traveling northbound on Bainbridge Avenue
when Reyes-Godoy emerged from between two parked cars and was struck. The ambulette’s
operator remained on scene. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is
investigating the incident as a homicide. Investigators believe that Reyes-Godoy was
arguing with the suspects when one of the men shoved him between the two cars
and into the roadway. Adames, 18, faces assault and disorderly conduct charges and
Almonte, 20, faces murder, robbery and assault charges. Photo by Edwin Soto
HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY. MULTI-VEHICLE COLLISION
Police responded to a multi-vehicle collision on Friday, December 7 at 5:30 p.m. at the
Hutchinson River Parkway near Exit 3E. According to police, a driver of a 2013 Honda
Mazda stated he stopped in traffi c and was rear ended by a school bus. The driver of
the fi rst bus stated that after he hit the Mazda he was rear-ended by another school
bus. No students were hurt on either bus. The drivers complained of pain, but did not
sustain any injuries. No arrests or summonses were issued following the incident.
Photo by Aracelis Batista
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