Bear Mountain Bridge

HIGHLAND – Work has begun on the planning to develop enhanced security on the five bridges operated by the New York State Bridge Authority.

The first bridge to receive the new security systems will be the Bear Mountain Bridge, said Authority Executive Director Joseph Ruggiero.

“We have actually started the design work and we are in the middle of procurement so that is underway,” he said.

After the work begins on the Bear Mountain, the Kingston-Rhinecliff and Rip Van Winkle bridges will be next.

The Mid-Hudson and Newburgh-Beacon bridges already have some security, notes Ruggiero.

“They currently have very sophisticated security systems that will be modernized.”

All of the systems will be designed to monitor the Hudson River and the understructures of the bridges as well as their surfaces.