Home Page

New Yorkled - NYC 's Bridges

New York City Bridges

Our Bridge Pages:

Here's a video we'd taken some time ago at and around the Brooklyn Bridge Area. Simply click on the play button twice to see it.
If you'd like to see some of our many other videos then visit our exclusive videos page here.


Bridges, if we're not driving or walking across them, then we're jumpin' off of them....'ok, ok...maybe a select few. 'What can I say about 'em? 'They were built with the intent of bridging the gap between our boroughs and for the sake of thoroughfare. 'Personally, I think they're wondrous! In looking up at them and crossing them, and thinking about their immensity and greatness you just can't help but be in awe. Of course if you happen to be thinking about jumpin' off of one...well, what better way to enjoy the waters after a nice dive...that is, if you manage through the experience! No matter what, your ho-hum day can be turned into a New Yorkled  day after walkin' across one.

Now, Although you may consider some of the smaller bridges to not even be worth the mention, I thought I'd mention them anyway...heck, they are what keep this city together...and take my word, if you happened to be on your way out of the city on a Friday afternoon or evening, you'll never forget their existence!. 'That is, whether you manage to escape at all. Oh yeah, I can remember the time when I was on my way to 'Naaaah......you really don't want to hear it do you? Well, take a look at some of the bigger bridges if you ignore the smaller ones...ok?....thanks....

Before you continue, 'would like to mention that the only bridges really worth seeing in person are the Brooklyn & George Washington Bridges. The Henry Hudson & Verrazano Bridges would stand at distant thirds in my book...but definitely worth a look only if you happen to be in the area, that is, if you consider their beauty and the surrounding parks/promenades.
  Top

Dave "The Bridge Man"

Courtesy of Dave Frieder
Dave's on top of the world in this photo
visit this page to
learn more about him

"I have been photographing NEW YORK'S BRIDGES since 1993...As of this date I have climbed fifteen of NEW YORK'S GREAT BRIDGES." - Dave Frieder
Dave Frieder's Site

Interested in owning a T-shirt designed by Dave "The Bridge Man"???

You can contact him at: DrFrieder@aol.com

(more details to come)

Courtesy of Dave Frieder
  Top

Broadway Bridge

The Broadway Bridge is a two level, vertical lift bridge with lanes for automobile traffic on the lower level and El trains on the upper level. It goes from just past 220th St. in Manhattan (a ten minute walk from Inwood Hill Park and Baker Field) and into the Bronx just south of 225th Street. This Bridge carries the 1 & 9 train lines which are what you might take if you were planning a trip to Van Courtlandt Park. Like most other bridges in the city, you're allowed to walk across. 'hehe, it's a short walk though!....

Construction Duration: 1959-1960
Total Length (including approaches): 557 feet
Width: 84 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 6
# of Subway Tracks: 3
Steel used in Construction: 2,500 tons
Cost to build: $13.4 million
Clearance above water: 25 feet

  Top

Washington
Heights Bridge

Opened to all traffic on February 22, 1889, a date which marked the President's birthdate, was the Washington Heights Bridge. This steel-arch bridge was to connect the Washington Heights section of Manhattan with The Bronx.

The bridge's ends are at: 181st St./Amsterdam Ave in Manhattan & University Ave in The Bronx.

Construction Duration: 1886-1888
Total Length (including approaches): 2,375 feet
Width: 66 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 6
Cost to build: $3 million
Clearance above water: 151 feet

  Top

145th Street
Bridge

With the growth in population and commerce at the time when it was built in the northern Manhattan areas, there came a need to further connect Manhattan with the Bronx. It was around this time, that is the late 1800's, that The Bronx' southern sections were becoming heavily industrialized. With this need came the 145th St. swing Bridge.

This bridge's ends are at: 145th St. in Manhattan & 149th St. in Manhattan. Just underneath this bridge within the ground is the #2 train line.

Construction Duration: 1901-1905
Total Length (including approaches): 1,603 feet
Width: 90 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 4 lanes
Steel used Construction: 2,372 tons
Cost to build: $2.75 million
Clearance above water: 25 feet

  Top

Madison Avenue
Bridge

This swing bridge crosses over the Harlem River to connect Manhattan with the Bronx. There were many details involving the original building of the bridge before it was rebuilt later on...these details will come in time. The original structure was completed in 1885 and the following one in 1910.

The bridge's ends are at: 138th St./Madison Ave in Manhattan & 138th St. in The Bronx.

Construction Duration: 1907-1910
Total Length (including approaches): 1,892 feet
Width: Over 54 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 4
Cost to build: $2.2 million
Clearance above water: 25 feet

  Top

3rd Avenue Bridge

Like many of the other small bridges, there are so many details involved with this swing bridge...too many/too much to mention here. You know, the usual politics and such involved in the building of the bridge.

Well what I can say is that this is probably the bridge I've crossed over the most. Being situated in the Bronx and constantly finding myself in Manhattan if not for work then for play.

What I always remembers is that this bridge has always been open for thoroughfare, but always under some sort of construction. 'And, everyone crosses it like a madman!.......yours truly included!.....It's as if there were this unnerving yearning to get to the other side!

The bridge's ends are at: 129th St./3rd Ave in Manhattan & Bruckner Boulevard in The Bronx.

Construction Duration: 1893-1898
Total Length (including approaches): 2,800 feet
Width: 86 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 4
Steel used in Construction: 6,165 tons
Cost to build: $4 million
Clearance above water: 24 feet

  Top

Willis Avenue Bridge

Funny thing about this swing bridge is that I've confused it so many times for the 3rd Ave Bridge. Mainly because it's in the same area and its Bronx entrances are so close to each other. For the longest time I've thought them to be the same, even though i've crossed over both so many times.

The bridge's ends are at: 125th St./1st Ave in Manhattan & 132nd St. in The Bronx.

Construction Duration: 1897-1901
Total Length (including approaches): 3,212 feet
Width: 60 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 4 lanes
Steel used in Construction: 6,213 tons
Cost to build: $2.5 million
Clearance above water: 24 feet

MORE TO COME!!!!

  Top

Triborough Bridge

Opened in 1936, the same year as the Henry Hudson Bridge, this suspension bridge is really 3 bridges in one. The main part goes from Manhattan onto Randall's Island at 125th St. & 1st Ave. then splits from there on into the boroughs of The Bronx and Queens. This bridge has some really fantastic views, and you could just imagine how, since it crosses into 3 boroughs! 'But, and it's a big BUT...'from Manhattan to Randalls Island, the bridge is 2,591 feet long, and that's maybe a fraction of its total length which I would estimate to be 2 1/2 miles.

Pedestrian entrances are located at: Hoyt Ave/26th St. in the Astoria section of Queens; 124-126th St/2nd Ave in the Harlem section of Manhattan; and, 134th St./Cypress Ave in the South Bronx section of The Bronx.

Construction Duration: 1929-1936
Total Length (including approaches): 13,820 feet (for all 3 boroughs)
Width: 98 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 6-8
Cost to build: $60.3 million
Clearance above water: 25 feet

  Top

University Heights Bridge

To Come...

Construction Duration: 1903-1908
Total Length (including approaches): 1,566 feet
Width: 50 feet
# of Traffic Lanes: 2
Cost to build: $1.2 million
Clearance above water: 25 feet

  Top

Sources

NYC Department of Transportation

Transportation Alternatives

The Port Authority of NY/NJ

nycoads.com

 

"Bridges." Dictionary of American History. 7 vols. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1976. Reproduced in History Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale Group. http://www.galenet.com/servlet/HistRC/
Document Number: DJ2311021616

  Top

(Back To Top) Get your Hotel Reservations today through New Yorkled Magazine.

What would you like to find on New Yorkled Magazine's Hundreds of Pages?
From Photos, Posters, Pics, Sights and Museums to Events
and Concerts going on throughout NYC.

* Contact New Yorkled regarding Advertising, Event Listings, Link Exchanges and more *

NYC Events: April Events - Photo Puzzles

Home - Site Map - NYC Links - Travel Links - Photography Links - NYC Posters
- NYC Photos
- NYC Transit System Fares
- New Yorkled Blog

Reaching out to NYC Non Profit Organizations and Helping to Raise Awareness

Copyright (©) New Yorkled 2001 - 2013 All rights reserved by law and otherwise.
Reproduction or use of the photos on this site for commercial purposes
without expressed permission from the site webmaster is prohibited

A site in existence since Early Summer of 2001
'striking a special kind of New York City Pride.
Join New Yorkled in its celebration of our City and America
Over 9,000,000 visitors served thus far

A property of Cyber Print Media, Ltd.


web analytics