Brooklyn Bridge was first opened in the year 1883.It connects Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City and spans over the East River. It is a brilliant feat of engineering, that is admired all over the world.The US National Park Service considers it a National Historic Landmark, that is built in the early 19th century. It is also the first bridge that used steel cable wires and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at that time. The bridge covers a total length of about 6106 ft (1.9 km). It was originally designed by John Roebling. The great elevation and the low-lying shores offer exquisite views of the Williamsburg Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Manhattan Bridge in the neighborhoods. The scenic beauty of Manhattan Island is enjoyed from downtown Brooklyn, New York City by thousands of tourists every year. At the time of construction when Brooklyn was a separate city, there was no means of transport except the boat to cross the East River. It was indeed a tremendous job to connect the two boroughs with so many technological limitations at that time. Today more than 30000 pedestrians use this bridge to cross the extensive East River.If you enjoyed reading these facts about the Brooklyn Bridge then you must check out these Texas facts and the New York agriculture facts, here on Kidadl.Brooklyn Bridge New York HistoryBrooklyn Bridge construction in New York originally began in the year 1869. Several proposals were laid out in the early 1800s.At that time, only boats were available to reach the Manhattan side from Brooklyn. Proposals for tunnels were also given to carry out railroad construction in order to reach the Brooklyn side of New York. The renowned engineer, John Roebling, made the plan and constructed this bridge. He created a unique method of weaving wire cables which became one of the most popular bridge designs. Unfortunately, he passed away before the Brooklyn Bridge was completed, and his son, Washington Roebling, who suffered from Caisson disease, took over as the chief engineer. Although he was confined to his apartment in Brooklyn, he continued to address the operations with the help of his wife. A major reconstruction of the bridge took place between the years 1944 and 1954. New horizontal stays were established in between the four main cables of the bridge. The two lanes of the roadway were widened to three lanes. It slopes down to the ground level, with a view of land on both sides of the river. In 1969, the FDR Drive, with a span of 9.68 miles (15.5 km) across lower Manhattan, was opened to traffic. The masonry towers were strengthened further with more repairs to the bridge structure.Brooklyn Bridge, New York Symbolism and SignificanceBrooklyn bridge symbolizes American and Italian cultures. It signifies the pathway of immense opportunities to Manhattan, New York City.It is a constant reminder of the flourishing industries of America and the numerous opportunities associated with them. The entire community can be viewed from the bridge, just like the abstract leading to a great story. Thousands of people arrive in New York City with plenty of dreams. They get a reflection of their future successes surfaced on the river atop this bridge. Arthur Miller’s play, ‘A View From The Bridge’, portrays the character Alferi, who is the personification of the Brooklyn bridge. He is symbolic of the difficulties faced by people and, thus, makes an attempt to unite the American and Italian cultures. Manhattan is famous for its modern culture, and therefore, the Brooklyn Bridge is symbolic of American success and freedom.How did the Brooklyn bridge change New York?The Brooklyn Bridge is the world’s first suspension bridge that connects Brooklyn with lower Manhattan in New York City. It’s also the first bridge that was constructed over the East River and has a span of about 1595 ft (486 m).It supports six lanes for vehicles along with a bicycle path and a shared narrow pedestrian lane that serves as a walkway. The bridge is open to vehicles like cars, bikes, and pedestrians. People marvel at the scenic beauty of New York City from the Brooklyn Bridge. It helped the new businesses to flourish at a time when there were no other means of transport available from Brooklyn to Manhattan. The connection of Brooklyn to the huge population center of Manhattan resulted in the course change of New York City forever.Cost and Purpose of Building Brooklyn Bridge in New YorkIt took about 14 years to complete the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City. The cost of building the bridge at that time was $15 million, which is approximately $320 million at present.The Bridge was mainly built to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn, which resulted in the great expansion of numerous businesses. Another major rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Bridge started in 2019, and the repair of the towers and ramps is being done. The bridge is constantly under maintenance and, along with the ramps, the stone masonry walls are also being reconstructed. Several luxurious neighborhoods are built near the bridge to cherish the breathtaking beauty. It takes about an hour to walk the Brooklyn bridge and return back. During sunrise, the bridge remains almost empty, and thus, it is the ideal time to enjoy the spectacular view of New York City. It is considered quite safe with the best surveillance. The pedestrian walkway remains well-lit at night. People from neighborhoods walk without worrying. Traffic remains constant all night long. It is absolutely safe in terms of its structure.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Brooklyn Bridge New York facts, then why not take a look at are bananas clones, or are alkali metals found in nature.
Brooklyn Bridge was first opened in the year 1883.
