The Collapse of the Green Island Bridge

44 years ago today, the Green Island Bridge collapsed into the Hudson River.

At about 2:25 pm March 15, 1977 authorities in Green Island were alerted to a pier washing away under the Green Island Bridge due to flood waters.

Telephone company repairmen fixing an underwater cable blocked the roadway when they felt the bridge trembling. The section closest to the Center Island end of the Troy-Center Island span collapsed into the river soon afterwards. At about 11pm that night, the tower lift span and its counterweights fell, causing the Village of Green Island to lose electric and phone power. The other tower followed the next day.

Four and a half years later, the new Green Island-Troy Bridge opened on September 10, 1981 with a huge “Together Again” celebration by both communities. The new bridge cost $21 million and was a four-lane lift bridge, 2,120 feet long and 106 feet high.

Green Island Bridge Fallen

2014.70 HCM Collection

Green Island Bridge Collapses

Gene Baxter Photo, HCM Collection

Green Island Bridge Collapses

Gene Baxter Photo, HCM Collection

Green Island Bridge Being Built, c. 1980.

Gene Baxter Photo, HCM Collection

"Together Again" T-Shirts

As seen in 2019 exhibition “Bridging the Hudson,” HCM Collection