Update: The Continuing Amazing Restoration of the Historic Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge
Over 35 people participated in the amazing clean-up and restoration of the Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge, which was designated a Town of North Hempstead landmark in June 2015.
Participants inluded members of the Long Island Motor Parkway Preservation Society, officials from the Town of North Hempsteadand PSEG Long Island and residents from Manhasset Hills, North Hills and New Hyde Park.
Congrats to everyone for a wonderful day!
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Update 10/31/2016: Additional photos from Bruce Adams
The Clean-Up
Al Velocci (left) and Art Kleiner (right) on the bridge.
Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth and Councilman Peter Zuckerman finish the painting of the bridge railing.
Tom Locascio of PSEG Long Island lends a hand.
From left to right: Tom Locascio, Peter Zuckerman, Matt Zuckerman, Howard Kroplick, 93-year old Hazel Kaufman-Pachtman (the inspiration for the clean-up) and Judi Bosworth.
Dee taking a break from the clean-up. Note: The North Hempstead dumpster is completely full.
Old Courthouse Road Motor Parkway Bridge "Then & Now"
Then: 1920s
The Old Courthouse Road Bridge can be seen in the background "looking west to Great Neck".
Then: 1972
View looking east towards Shelter Rock Road. Courtesy of Marget and George Vitale from slides by Lester Cutting.
Now: October 29, 2016
View looking west today. Remnants of the Motor Parkway pavement and concrete extensions are still visible.
Then: May 11, 2016
Now: October 29, 2016
Today's view of the bridge after the clean-up. Major debris, bushes and poison ivy were removed earilier this month by PSEG Long Island. The bridge was painted by the Town of North Hempstead. Note: The embankments can be seen for the first time in over 20 years.
Then: May 11, 2016
The south embankment covered in grafitti.
Same view today. Note: The 1909 date on the bridge.
Security cameras now protect the bridge.
Then: May 21, 2016
On top of the bridge looking north.
Now: October 29, 2016
Bruce's Bonus (Submitted by Bruce Adams)
Comments
Great job everyone. Sorry I couldn’t be there with you.
All the best,
Rog
It was great seeing you guys at work cleaning up,it brought back memories when I cleaned up places with you guys.
A really nice job and great pictures to go with it. Keep up the good work.
Ken Harris
great job guys,wish I still lived on LI, miss the history. Wow, Lester Cutting (from Huntington)? A name from the past, cool.
Thank you for posting coverage of the cleanup event as well as all the material you have provided over the years; I have learned quite a lot about the LIMP from you and your colleagues.
Possible errata: the bridge views above titled “Then: 1972” and “Now: October 29, 2016” indicate “looking west”, however, the direction appears to be eastward.
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From Howard Kroplick:
Jim. good catch. Thanks!