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Williamsburg Bridge

Coordinates: 40°42′49″N 73°58′20″W / 40.713744°N 73.972299°W / 40.713744; -73.972299
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Williamsburg Bridge
Coordinates40°42′49″N 73°58′20″W / 40.713744°N 73.972299°W / 40.713744; -73.972299
Carries8 lanes of roadway,
2 tracks of the J, M, and Z​ trains of the New York City Subway,
pedestrians, and bicycles
CrossesEast River
LocaleManhattan and Brooklyn, in New York City
Maintained byNew York City Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignSuspension bridge and truss causeways
Total length2,227.5 meters (7,308 ft)
Width36 meters (118 ft)
Longest span487.7 meters (1,600 ft)
Clearance above10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m) (inner roadways only)
Clearance below41.1 meters (135 ft) at mean higher high water
History
OpenedDecember 19, 1903
Statistics
Daily traffic110,000
TollFree
Location
Map

The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn on Long Island at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (Interstate 278). It once carried New York State Route 27A and later Interstate 78.

Historical film clip of a procession during the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903.

Construction on the bridge, the second to cross this river, began in 1896, with Leffert L. Buck as chief engineer, Henry Hornbostel as architect and Holton D. Robinson as assistant engineer, and the bridge opened on December 19, 1903 at a cost of $24,200,000[1]. At the time it was constructed, the Williamsburg Bridge set the record for the longest suspension bridge span on Earth. The record fell in 1924, when the Bear Mountain Bridge was completed. It is an unconventional structure, as suspension bridges go; though the main span hangs from cables in the usual manner, the side spans leading to the approaches are cantilevered, drawing no support from the cables above. The main span of the bridge is 1600 feet (488 m) long. The entire bridge is 7308 feet (2227 m) long between cable anchor terminals, and the deck is 118 feet (36 m) wide. The height at the center of the bridge is 135 feet (41 m) and each tower is 335 feet (102 m); these measurements taken from the river's surface at high water mark.

This bridge and the Manhattan Bridge are the only suspension bridges in New York City that still carry both automobile and rail traffic. In addition to this two-track rail line, connecting the New York City Subway's BMT Nassau Street Line and BMT Jamaica Line, there were once two sets of trolley tracks.

The Brooklyn landing is between Grand Street and Broadway, which both had ferries at the time. Both withered and went out of business in the following years.

The bridge has been under reconstruction since the 1980s, largely to repair damage caused by decades of deferred maintenance. The cast iron stairway on the Manhattan side, and the steep ramp from Driggs Avenue on the Williamsburg side to the footwalks, were replaced to allow handicapped access in the 1990s. The bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary in December 2003.

No tolls are charged for motor vehicles to use the bridge.

Had the Lower Manhattan Expressway been built, the Williamsburg Bridge would have obtained the Interstate 78 designation.

Rail tracks

The bridge towers prominently over East River Park.

The rapid transit tracks in the center of the bridge were initially used by the Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company elevated railroad. Today, the New York City Subway J, M, and Z​ trains use these tracks.

Two tracks on the south side carried streetcars from the Brooklyn side:

Two north-side tracks carried Manhattan streetcars:

  • The bridge is mentioned in the popular MMORPG World of Warcraft as the "Bridge of Life".
  • During a sabbatical from performing, American jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins would venture to the Williamsburg Bridge for practice sessions, in order to spare a neighboring expectant mother the noise.
  • Soul Coughing lead singer Mike Doughty refers to the Williamsburg Bridge in the song "True Dreams of Wichita.".
  • Altamonte lead singer James Cashman refers to the Williamsburg Bridge in the song "Hannah".
  • East Bay(San Francisco) rockers, Black Cat Music, have a song titled "Williamsburg Bridge Song".
  • Locals frequently refer to the bridge as the "Willy B."

Full span, as seen from Wallabout Bay with Greenpoint and Long Island City in background

The 1928 Edward Hopper painting "From Williamsburg Bridge" depicts a long-gone building as seen from the bridge's since remodeled walkway. See http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2007/hopper/fullscreens/urbanpictures/229-031.shtm

  • Fireworks on opening night, 1903.
    Fireworks on opening night, 1903.
  • Williamsburg Bridge view from Manhattan side
    Williamsburg Bridge view from Manhattan side
  • J Train on Williamsburg Bridge
    J Train on Williamsburg Bridge
  • Williamsburg Bridge from the Lower East side of Manhattan
    Williamsburg Bridge from the Lower East side of Manhattan
  • From South 6th Street
    From South 6th Street
  • From South 6th Street
    From South 6th Street
  • View of cables and saddle housing
    View of cables and saddle housing
  • Bicycle and pedestrian path
    Bicycle and pedestrian path

References

  1. ^ http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/williamsburg/
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Williamsburg Bridge.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Williamsburg Bridge bikeways.
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