Kleiner’s Korner: Construction Plans for the Hollis Court Boulevard (Queens Road) Motor Parkway Bridge
Detailed construction requirements and plans were drawn up in 1925 for the building of the steel and concrete Hollis Court Boulevard (Queens Road) Motor Parkway Bridge. The requirements detailed the responsibilities of the contractor, exact measurements and construction material.
Art Kleiner
The Hollis Hills Terrace Motor Parkway Bridge
Originally named Queens Road, the road eventually became Hollis Court Boulevard and today's Hollis Hills Terrace.
1941
Contractor Requirements Document
The responsibilities of the contractor and detailed construction plans were written up in this 18 page typed document prepared in April of 1925. Some examples follow. But feel free to read the entire document or parts of it if you're interested in more details of the bridge's construction.
A 2016 photo of the bridge indicating its construction date of 1925.
The Shoemaker Bridge Co. of Pottstown, PA received a copy of the plans in April, 1925.
As did the G. Richard Davis & Co. of White Plains and New York. Does anyone know what company was ultimately awarded the project?
Furnishing, manufacturing, excavating, backfilling, erecting, etc.
The contractor was responsible for the procurement of material and labor and permits "necessary for completing in the best manner the work called for".
The hierarchy of who is responsible on the job.
Foundation requirements.
Specific chemical and physical specifications of material to be used were given.
Surveys of the Work to be Done
From the Motor Parkway Survey and Map Collection. (March, 1925)
Stamped on the back of the surveys was this caption noting estimates were based on these plans which were developed by the George A. Just Co. The company was a structural steel fabricator with offices in the Chrysler Building and a factory in Long Island City.
Wonder if the person who got this job worked on the Motor Parkway blueprints and measurements 3 years later! $7 salary per week! (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Mar. 4, 1922)
Note the 14' minimum clearance . . .
and the 12' 10" clearance noted in this 2016 photo. Was the bridge spec. revised?
Girder Detail
2016
Exact Measurements and Calculations
Comments
In New York State the posted bridge clearance is 12 inches less than the actual clearance if the actual clearance is less than 14 feet. So here it is actually 13 ft 10 inches. The two-inch discrepancy is probably due to a subsequent repaving of the roadway. A bridge with 14 ft or higher actual clearance does not require a clearance sign.
In other states the posted clearance is three inches less than the actual.
A real nit-pick: Hollis Hills Terrace is a very recent name for the road. I don’t think the bridge should be referred to by that name. Hollis Court Boulevard would be more accurate, don’t you think? Even the documents shown here refer to it by that name. As a comparison, the North Hempstead Turnpike Bridge is not referred to as the Booth Memorial Avenue Bridge, even though that is the current name of the remaining section of North Hempstead Turnpike. Just asking…
Mitch - appreciate your comment. Technically I agree with you. Guess its a blending of what people might know it as today (e.g., those not knowing the history) and those that know the road’s various name changes. Besides the example you give, there are probably others out there too. In any case I’m always eager to hear what others think. Thanks.
Mitch, excellent point. We will rename the bridge!! Enjoy, Howard
Thanks Howard (and Art)...you work fast! Small detail, but I do think it’s the proper name.
Good point. I think it’d be best to include all names (past and present) to keep folks better informed of name change history. That knowledge is beneficial when deciphering old maps with ancient names.
And to put icing on the cake, here’s the Hollis Court Blvd. name used in a 1925 article noting approval to erect the bridge! Note the inaccurate name of the Motor Parkway and its misspelling along with the financial arrangements. From the “Brooklyn Chat” of Jan. 31, 1925.
Wow. Nice. But what was the car in the first picture?
The car in the first photo looks like a 1940 Plymouth.
Possibly a 1940 Lincoln/Mercury/Ford
https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_44_a_motor_parkway_bridge