Vice President Joe Biden was on hand June 3 to unofficially christen the $500 million bridge-coating project on the Brooklyn Bridge with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The last time the icon was painted was in 1991, and was showing obvious signs of decay. Biden chose to stand in front of an access ramp where paint was peeling so badly it was exposing patches of rusted steel. Work also will include the expansion of approach ramps from one lane to two. The city will use $30 million in stimulus money to help pay for the preservation effort.
The existing coat will be blasted off, and in an effort to be green the blasting and repainting will be done in enclosed units that will travel along the structure above traffic. Approach-span work will consist of slabs that will be placed one by one in an effort to reduce noise from jackhammers and drilling.
The bridge will be the same sandy color it has been since it opened on May 24, 1883.
