Carroll Street Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carroll Street Bridge |
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Carroll Street Bridge retracting
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| Coordinates | 40°40′42″N 73°59′21″W / 40.6782°N 73.9892°W |
| Carries | 1 lane for eastbound one-way vehicle traffic and 2 walkways |
| Crosses | Gowanus Canal |
| Locale | New York City (Brooklyn) |
| Maintained by | New York City Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Retractable bridge |
| Total length | 107 ft 6 in (32.8 m) |
| Width | 17.5 ft (5.3 m) |
| Longest span | 63 ft (19 m) |
| History | |
| Engineering design by | Brooklyn Department of City Works (Robert Van Buren, Chief Engineer; George Ingram, Engineer-in-Charge) |
| Opened | 1889 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 1,142 (2016) |
| Toll | Free |
The Carroll Street Bridge is a special kind of bridge in New York City. It crosses the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. This bridge is unique because it's a retractable bridge, which means it slides open to let boats pass. It has one lane for cars going one way and two paths for people to walk.
Built in 1889, it's one of the oldest and least-used bridges in the city. It's also one of only four retractable bridges left in the whole United States! Because it's so rare, it's an official city landmark.
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What is the Carroll Street Bridge?
The Carroll Street Bridge is about 107 feet (33 meters) long. It's supported by strong steel beams called plate girders. The bridge is 17.5 feet (5.3 meters) wide. It has one lane for cars going east and a sidewalk on each side for people.
The bridge is located on Carroll Street in the Gowanus neighborhood. There are rules for vehicles using the bridge. Cars must be shorter than 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 meters) and weigh less than 10 tons.
How Does the Bridge Work?
The part of the bridge that moves is shaped like a trapezoid. This means it has four sides, but they are not all the same length. Underneath the main beams are special frames with wheels.
When the bridge needs to open, these frames roll along three steel tracks. These tracks are on the western side of the canal. The bridge slides diagonally onto the land. This creates a 36-foot (11-meter) wide space for ships to pass through. The frames move using a system of pulleys.
Long ago, a steam engine moved the bridge. Today, an electric motor does the job. When the bridge is open, gates on both sides close to stop cars and people from trying to cross.
There is a small building on the western end of the bridge. This is where the bridge operator would sit. Usually, no one is there, but an operator can come within two hours if the bridge needs to open.
The Carroll Street Bridge is one of only four retractable bridges still in use in the United States. In New York City, it's one of two, with the other being the Borden Avenue Bridge in Queens. New York City used to have five retractable bridges, but three were removed in the mid-1900s.
A Look Back: History of the Bridge
In the 1860s, a man named Edwin Litchfield made the Gowanus Canal straighter and wider. This helped dry up the swampy land around it, making it a good place for buildings. Soon, the Gowanus Canal became a busy area for businesses. Many companies that dealt with lumber, coal, and other goods were there.
The canal had six bridges, including one at Carroll Street. The first Carroll Street bridge closed in 1887. Then, people discussed what kind of new bridge to build.
Why Was This Bridge Built?
Landowners wanted a retractable bridge. This design would let the bridge slide onto the shore. But the city of Brooklyn didn't want this because it meant buying more land.
In the end, the city chose the landowners' plan. This was because the canal was narrower at Carroll Street. A regular bridge that lifts up (called a bascule bridge) might have blocked some boats.
The new Carroll Street Bridge was designed by Robert Van Buren and George Ingram. Charles O. H. Fritzche designed the motors. A company called Cooper, Hewitt & Company built the steel parts. The bridge opened in 1889 and cost $29,600.
Changes and Challenges Over Time
After the Carroll Street Bridge was built, it didn't change much. In 1908, the steam motors were replaced with electric ones. The tracks and wheels were updated in 1915, and the handrails were replaced in 1948.
In 1971, the New York City government decided to close the bridge for good. Not many boats were using the Gowanus Canal anymore. The city also didn't have enough money to keep the bridge working. Only about 2,600 cars used the bridge each day, but it had to open twice a day.
The closure was delayed after people protested. The city decided to reopen the bridge a month later. In 1974, the bridge closed again for emergency repairs. A mechanical problem left it stuck open.
Another problem in 1985 or 1986 caused the bridge to be stuck open for several years. During this time, the bridge was used in the 1985 movie Heaven Help Us.
In 1987, the bridge was named an official New York City landmark. The Landmarks Commission called it "rare and unusual." The fixed bridge was reopened on September 24, 1989. It was repaired again in 2011. After Hurricane Sandy damaged it in 2012, the Carroll Street Bridge was repaired the next year.
See also
In Spanish: Puente de Carroll Street para niños
