Due to a dredging project being conducted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers there will be multiple daily bridge lifts at the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge beginning Thursday, Jan. 26th and lasting through February.

The lifts, which will take place around-the-clock, require full, periodic closure of the bridge to traffic. It takes approximately 15 minutes to raise and lower the bridge, which has a clearance of 150 feet above water in its raised position.

Federal code requires that a lift bridge must be raised in order to allow for crossing marine traffic. If possible motorists are advised to use the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge as an alternate.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on a restoration project in Jamaica Bay to restore approximately 40 acres of marsh island by placing 375,000 cubic yards of clean, dredged sand from Ambrose Channel in Lower New York Bay.

"The Corps is committed to this work and will make every effort to minimize the inconvenience to the public from the bridge raisings," said Col. John R. Boulé II, the Army Corps' New York District Commander. "The overall project will have a significant positive impact on Jamaica Bay, which will last decades beyond construction completion."