Paper 1 The Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge

            The Brooklyn Bridge, built between 1869 and 1883, connects Manhattan with New York's most popular borough, Brooklyn. Before the Brooklyn Bridge ever existed anyone wishing to cross the East River had to take the Fulton Ferry. With limited resources “the ferry system could not keep pace with the expansion of industry which took place in the mid-19th century” (BG 464). The people of New York came to the quick realization that the small ferry system would not be able to accommodate the growing population of the city. After the Civil War people began to demand for a bridge to be built to assist the city in the transportation of goods and people. With the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, the way goods and people were transported throughout the city were forever changed.

            The designer of the bridge John Roebling, was a German immigrant. He was the driving force behind the bridge being built. Unfortunately he never got to see the bridge finished because he died shortly after crushing his foot in an accident. He was not the only one who died during the building of the bridge; out of the 4000 people that built the bridge it is believed that about 20 people died during the constructing of the bridge. Men falling off the bridge and stories of men getting buried in tons of cement were the belief of how the men died. After John Roebling’s death his son, Washington Roebling, took over in place of his father but he also suffered during the construction of the bridge. He suffered from caisson-disease from the work he did on the pillars of the bridge and was on his death bed during the inauguration. His wife Emily would oversee construction in his stead. Occasionally she would run from where her husband lay ill to the bridge to tell the workers what her husband wanted them to do next. Because of this Emily Roebling became a major impact on how the bridge was built. Without her at her husband’s side the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge could have been severely halted, or even not completed at all.  

            After 14 years of building the bridge was finally opened to the public on May 28th 1883. The Brooklyn Bridge quickly became one of New York’s greatest landmarks. “It was the largest suspension bridge in existence, with a single span arching 1,595 feet across the East River, and massive granite towers that stretched 276 feet above the water” (BG 465).  The Brooklyn Bridge stands as one of the greatest engineering achievements of the 19th century. “It has been designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service, and a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.” (nycdot) It is also one of the best places to see the great view of the bridge's towers in addition to the downtown Manhattan's skyline. The views single-handedly attract millions of spectators to this bridge every year. Although, now the Brooklyn Bridge is the 66th longest suspension bridge in the world it is still a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the greatest city in the world. One hundred and twenty five years later the bridge is still as important as it was when it was first created.

            One very important aspect of this bridge is that pedestrians are able to cross with relative ease and little interaction with street traffic. The design of the bridge allows pedestrians to cross the bridge on the top, above the streets that the cars travel on. “The bridge, which now accommodates six lanes of automobile traffic, carries approximately 145,000 vehicles per day” (NYCroads)  As if separating cars and walkers was not important enough, the bridge also differentiates between bikers and walkers on the top level. This allows for an even more effective way of traveling, separating three different speeds in which people travel. As much as the bridge is used on an everyday basis, twice was it used for critical emergencies in the city. First on September 11, 2001 when the Twin Towers fell and a major evacuation was called, many New Yorkers crossed the bridge as an escape from the chaos. Again on August 14, 2003 when a severe blackout struck the city, people from all over the city escaped to the bridge as a way to get to safety.  On this date people recall the bridge swaying from side to side as people were shoulder to shoulder crossing the bridge to get to the other side.
              Although there has never been a major problem with the design of the Brooklyn Bridge the city hires workers to attend to the needs of the bridge.  The workers have the duty of keeping the bridge safe and up to date on with the most recent reguations codes.  "The bridge entered its second century as strong as ever following an extensive renovation in the early 1980's" (lonely planet 84). This renovation was used to fix anything that was wrong with the bridge. Not only city workers assisted with the renovation but minor artists helped by making sure that the bridge’s design was not compromised. The idea was to make the bridge more convenient and more suitable for the times. The city wanted the bridge to still be seen as a landmark of the city while keeping it convenient for the people using it.

            The landmark that is the Brooklnyn Bridge will always be one of New York's greatest accomplishments. Created during a time where a brigde was necessary for the transportation of goods and people, the Brooklyn Bridge rose and continues to assist in the transportation for many people in New York.

           Below you will find many interesting facts on the Brooklyn Bridge ranging from how many lanes are on the bridge to the length of the wires holding the bridge.

Type of bridge: Construction started: Opened to traffic: Length of main span: Length of side spans: Length, anchorage to anchorage: Total length of bridge and approaches: Width of bridge: Number of traffic lanes: Number of cables: Height of towers above mean high water: Clearance at center above mean high water: Length of each of four cables: Diameter of each cable: Number of wires in each cable: Total length of wires: Total masonry in towers: Weight of suspended structure: Total weight of bridge: Cost of original structure:

Suspension January 3, 1870 May 24, 1883 1,595 feet, 6 inches 930 feet 3,455 feet, 6 inches 6,016 feet 85 feet 6 lanes 4 cables 276 feet, 6 inches 135 feet 3,578 feet, 6 inches 15' inches 5,434 wires 14,060 miles 85,159 cubic yards 6,620 tons 14,680 tons $15,100,000

Works Cited

"Brooklyn Bridge." , New York City. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. <http://www.aviewoncities.com/nyc/brooklynbridge.htm>.

"Brooklyn Bridge." Brooklyn Bridge. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. <http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn/>.

"Brooklyn Bridge." NYC DOT -. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/brooklyn_bridge.shtml>.

Otis, Ginger Adams., Beth Greenfield, and Louis Regis. St. NYC: City Guide. Footscray, Vic.: Lonely Planet, 2010. Print.

Wright, Carol P. "Blue Guide New York (Fourth Edition) (Blue Guides) [Paperback]." Amazon.com: Blue Guide New York (Fourth Edition) (Blue Guides) (9781905131235): Carol Von Pressentin Wright: Books. Complete Cultural Guides, n.d. Web. 17 June 2012. <http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Guide-Fourth-Edition-Guides/dp/1905131232>.