The High Line – Moynihan Connector, led by Empire State Development, Brookfield Properties, and Friends of the High Line, links Penn Station, Hudson Yards, and the High Line in Midtown West. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) and James Corner Field Operations, with contributions from Aspect Structural Engineers, Howard Shapiro Associates Consulting Engineers, Mercer Mass Timber, and Entuitive Consulting Engineers, this 600-foot elevated park enhances pedestrian mobility and transforms a former industrial area into a vibrant mixed-use space.
Metropolitan Walters was responsible for furnishing and installing the Timber Bridge, made from Alaskan yellow cedar.
Ensuring that connections between the steel and timber components were durable and met bridge code requirements was a primary concern. The use of Alaskan yellow cedar, while beneficial for its durability and insect resistance, presented issues due to its soft nature. To overcome this, connections were designed to be weather-protected and positioned to prevent water wicking, with sacrificial timber zones included for easier repair in the future.
Logistics were particularly complex due to the need to work over an active roadway that could not be closed for more than 36 hours. Metropolitan Walters addressed this by constructing the 300+ footbridge span in two sections at a nearby location. These sections were then transported into place using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs) and installed with the assistance of two 500-ton mobile cranes, ensuring minimal disruption to the roadway below.