BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Squibb Park Bridge, designed to put “a little spring” in pedestrians’ steps, will remain closed until next year for repairs, according to officials.
In August, staff at the park reported “unusual movement of the bridge” and it was closed immediately so workers could evaluate the issue, said a spokeswoman for Brooklyn Bridge Park, which includes Squibb Park, in a statement.
While officials hoped to reopen the bridge within a few weeks, engineers found that the slight bounce it gave walkers had become more pronounced and potentially hazardous, The New York Times first reported.
“It bounced more and moved side to side,” Regina Myer, president of Brooklyn Bridge Park, told the newspaper.
The “lightweight and flexible” bridge, which opened last year and connects Brooklyn Heights to Pier 1, was made with black locust timber, bronze and galvanized steel, according to the park’s website.
The problem is currently being monitored and investigated to ensure that the bridge is “safe and secure,” the spokeswoman said.
“Our team of civil engineers and infrastructure specialists has been performing ongoing investigation — including the installation of tilt meters and accelerometers, which will monitor movement — to diagnose and solve the problem,” she said.
The bridge is expected to reopen in spring 2015. Squibb Park will remain open during the repairs.
