Republican convention organizers yesterday unveiled plans for a mammoth temporary bridge over Eighth Avenue at this summer’s four-day gala.
Construction on the 140-foot bridge, which will be performed free by Turner Construction, is set to begin on June 7.
The walkway will run above Eighth Avenue and connect the soon-to-close Farley Post Office with the north end of Madison Square Garden.
The convention itself will take place in the Garden, while the post office will be used for temporary offices for the media and other organizations.
GOP convention host committee president Kevin Sheekey said the bridge also marks the first step in converting the post office to the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Train Station – a long-discussed transportation hub to be named after the late New York senator.
Sheekey and Convention CEO Bill Harris hosted yesterday’s event in a barren area of the post office – one which was just months ago bustling with postal employees – to show that the transformation of the century-old building is moving along.
In a shot at the city hosting the Democratic convention, Sheekey pointed out that “while Boston is closing a train station, we’re opening one.”
Citing security concerns, Boston officials will close North Station for a full week in late July while Democrats congregate to nominate Sen. John Kerry.
Sheekey repeated that there were still no plans to follow Boston’s lead and close Penn Station.