Walkway is open
The river that flows both ways now offers a superlative-friendly way for people to walk across it both ways and enjoy the majesty of the Hudson River Valley.
The longest pedestrian bridge in the world has opened.
Poughkeepsie”™s former train bridge was the height of the Industrial Revolution”™s technology when built in 1888. It was an engineering marvel ”“ briefly the longest bridge in the world ”“ and opened the region to commerce. A changing economy, the increase of trucks and planes to transport goods and ultimately a 1974 fire permanently put the bridge out of commission.
Its rebirth as a mile-plus pedestrian walkway 212 feet above the river has created another venue to attract tourists. It should help small businesses who cater to visitors, now expected to arrive at the landmark from around the world.
Just in time for the culmination of the Quadricentennial celebration, Walkway Over The Hudson opened its gates to welcome pedestrian, skaters, bikers and hikers on its projected due date of Oct. 3. A lantern lighting took place the evening of Oct. 2 along with a dazzling fireworks display, illuminating the bridge in preparation for the grand opening.
Thousands were on hand to launch the ribbon cutting the world”™s longest pedestrian crossing, a 1.25 mile span touted by national, state and local officials as an important economic driver for the Hudson Valley.
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With a bevy of politicos on hand on for the ribbon cutting, Gov. David Paterson recalled when Rob Dyson, president of the Dyson Foundation, first approached him about public funding to revitalize the former train bridge. “He asked me to talk to the governor (Eliot Spitzer) and ask for help with the project, but now, there”™s no middle man and Rob and I have been working together directly to see this become the legacy project for our Quadricentennial year.”
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Paterson thanked the Netherlands”™ Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife, Maxima for attending the ceremonies and for the insight, commerce and work ethic their Dutch ancestors brought with them to the New World when they settled in the Hudson River Valley in the 1600”™s.
The $39 million project was years in the dreaming, but when it came to hammering down the nuts and bolts, it took two years from the $1.5 million feasibility study paid for by The Dyson Foundation to see if saving the bridge was feasible to the last bolt fashioned last month.
Paterson and state Parks and Recreation Commissioner Carol Ash both described the unique public/private partnership as “truly amazing.” While the bridge itself is 1.25 miles, the actual walkway is double that length and connects existing and planned linear parks throughout Dutchess and Ulster counties. “There”™s no other park like this on the planet,” said Paterson, “and truly, it is the crown jewel of the New York state park system.”
Ash added, “This is one of those days when I truly can say I love coming to work!”
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U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, who secured $1 million in federal funding for the Walkway, said the former “economic powerhouse that brought commerce to the Hudson Valley will now be used as a new economic powerhouse for tourism and local business.” U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey announced more than $1 million in federal transit funds had just been allocated to the world”™s longest linear bridge park along with the news that Walkway has been designated part of the National Recreation System.
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Prince Willem-Alexander and Maxima represented the Netherlands, just as his mother Queen Beatrix did a half-century ago when the river celebrated the 350th anniversary of Hudson”™s discovery.
When asked if it were possible to expand the existing parking on the Ulster side of the Walkway to accommodate morning and rush hour commuters by creating a bus loop to the Poughkeepsie train station, Ash responded, “We”™ve just gotten the bridge opened … first things first.”
Paterson did not rule out the use, “particularly considering the economic situation the state is facing. If the people would like to see this happen, I”™m open to suggestions.”
The Walkway will remain open 365 days per year, from dawn to dusk and be patrolled by the state, park and local police from both sides of the river. It will be open to emergency vehicles should the need arise.
Peter Melewski, project manager for Bergmann, said the elevator planned for the west side of the Walkway is already being designed and if all goes well, should be ready and open to the public sometime in 2011. The cost of the elevator is approximately $1.5 million.
Rob Dyson didn”™t want to talk dollars when it came to how much his family”™s Foundation contributed to the Walkway. “Let”™s just say it was a large donation, but it”™s not about money,” said Dyson, smiling. “It”™s about creating something beautiful that will bring people to the region and that helped to restore an architectural gem.” And despite the weather, the thousands of people who took part in Walkway parades, volunteered services or just showed up to be part of the historic moment, , all hope Walkway Over The Hudson will wow visitors from around the world and bring sustainable income to the small businesses, hotels and restaurants that depend on the region”™s tourism.