The City’s Department of Transportation is calling for sealed competitive bids for the reconstruction of the Bay Ridge Avenue bridge. This is a structure at the foot of Bay Ridge Avenue at Shore Road, which also serves as the entranceway to the American Veterans Memorial Pier (69th Street Pier).
Originally constructed in 1939, as part of the larger Shore Parkway Belt System, locally known as the Belt Parkway, the bridge has become a community eyesore with visible rusted steel beams, dirty retaining walls and a patchwork quilt of wooden 2x4s and 2x6s covering its underbelly.
Keep in mind, prior to the opening of the Verazzano Narrows Bridge in 1964, there was also a tremendous amount of vehicular traffic entering and leaving the 69th Street Pier under this bridge when the Brooklyn-to-Staten Island ferries were in operation. I’m sure the high volume back then also helped to contribute to the overall deterioration of this bridge.
With the new structure, DOT plans to have the height of the bridge increased a few inches, improve drainage and widen the parkway traffic lanes that cross above it. Prospective construction firms have until April 1, when the bids will be opened.
I hope the plans also call for some lighting under the span which would help make it much safer at night; and when it sometimes serves as a refuge from the rain when evening events on the pier like the annual 9-11 commemoration are taking place.
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Bay Ridgeite Chandra Hira
Also addressing the gathering at Xaverian High School the same evening was Ralph Perfetto
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The Bay Ridge Federal Credit Union, for many years based at the northwest corner of 90th Street and Fourth Avenue, recently relocated to spacious, state-of-the-art, two-story building at 1750 86th Street. This coming Friday, March 8, a formal ribbon cutting will take place at 3 p.m. Our good friend, Gene Brody who also serves with us on the Fort Hamilton Citizens Action Committee, is the president and CEO of the Credit Union.
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Brian ChinRuth Berg.
We had a lively chat with club member Mike Connors about his weekly Saturday radio show over WOR 710, the Lincoln Movie, and his involvement with the Civil War Roundtable of New York. He informed us that author Bud Livingston will be discussing Brooklyn and the Civil War at the Roundtable’s March 13 meeting, 5 p.m., at the 3 West Club, 3 West 51st Street in Manhattan. Dinner with a cocktail party is $50 per person. For reservations call 718-341-9811.
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Erin go Bragh! If youre Irish or honorary Irish for the day, you might want to remember that the annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Parade takes place along Seventh Avenue and Prospect Park West, in Park Slope, on Sunday, March 17, starting at 1 p.m.
However, a day before, on Saturday, March 16, the citys oldest parade steps up Fifth Avenue, from 44th Street to 79th Street, beginning at 11 a.m. It’s the 252nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade with Alfred E. Smith IVAlfred E. Smith, as this year’s grand marshal. The elder Smith, while governor, led the parade in 1925.
On Sunday, March 24, with a kickoff at 1 p.m., it’s the 20th annual Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade, this time marching down Third Avenue instead of Fifth. The 2013 Grand Marshal is Sister Virgina Lake
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To reach Ted General via the Internet, his e-mail address is:
On the Avenue: Bay Ridge’s parade season in full swing 
On the Avenue: Kiwanis Club fetes ‘Finest’ with award named for late chief