Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge in New York City, spanning the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Opened on May 24, 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first fixed crossing of the East River. It was also the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening, with a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m) and a deck 127 ft (38.7 m) above mean high water. The span was originally called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge or the East River Bridge but was officially renamed the Brooklyn Bridge in 1915.
Brooklyn Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40.7057°N 73.9964°W |
| Carries | 5 lanes of roadway (cars only) Elevated trains (until 1944) Streetcars (until 1950) Pedestrians and bicycles |
| Crosses | East River |
| Locale | New York City (Civic Center, Manhattan – Dumbo/Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn) |
| Maintained by | New York City Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 22400119 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension/Cable-stay Hybrid |
| Total length | 6,016 ft (1,833.7 m; 1.1 mi) |
| Width | 85 ft (25.9 m) |
| Height | 272 ft (82.9 m) (towers) |
| Longest span | 1,595.5 ft (486.3 m) |
| Clearance below | 127 ft (38.7 m) above mean high water |
| History | |
| Designer | John Augustus Roebling |
| Constructed by | New York Bridge Company |
| Opened | May 24, 1883 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 121,930 (2019) |
| Toll | Free both ways |
Brooklyn Bridge | |
| Built | 1869–1883 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000523 |
| NYSRHP No. | 06101.001644 |
| NYCL No. | 0098 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
| Designated NYSRHP | June 23, 1980 |
| Designated NYCL | August 24, 1967 |
| Location | |
Proposals for a bridge connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn were first made in the early 19th century, which eventually led to the construction of the current span, designed by John A. Roebling. The project's chief engineer, his son Washington Roebling, contributed further design work, assisted by the latter's wife, Emily Warren Roebling. Construction started in 1870, with the Tammany Hall-controlled New York Bridge Company overseeing construction, although numerous controversies and the novelty of the design prolonged the project over thirteen years. Since opening, the Brooklyn Bridge has undergone several reconfigurations, having carried horse-drawn vehicles and elevated railway lines until 1950. To alleviate increasing traffic flows, additional bridges and tunnels were built across the East River. Following gradual deterioration, the Brooklyn Bridge has been renovated several times, including in the 1950s, 1980s, and 2010s.
The Brooklyn Bridge is the southernmost of the four toll-free vehicular bridges connecting Manhattan Island and Long Island, with the Manhattan Bridge, the Williamsburg Bridge, and the Queensboro Bridge to the north. Only passenger vehicles and pedestrian and bicycle traffic are permitted. A major tourist attraction since its opening, the Brooklyn Bridge has become an icon of New York City. Over the years, the bridge has been used as the location of various stunts and performances, as well as several crimes and attacks. The Brooklyn Bridge has been designated a National Historic Landmark, a New York City landmark, and a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.