Walkway over the Hudson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walkway over the Hudson |
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| Carries | Railroad (1889–1974) Walkway (2009–present) |
| Crosses | Hudson River |
| Locale | Poughkeepsie, New York to Highland, New York |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever deck truss bridge |
| Total length | 6,768 feet (2,063 m) |
| Width | 35 feet (11 m) |
| Height | 212 feet (65 m) |
| Longest span | 2 × 548 feet (167 m) |
| Number of spans | 7 |
| Clearance above | Unlimited |
| Clearance below | 160 feet (49 m) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | Manhattan Bridge Building Company |
| Construction begin | 1886 |
| Construction end | 1889 |
| Opened | January 1, 1889 (railroad) October 3, 2009 (walkway) |
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Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Poughkeepsie, New York |
| Built | 1886–1888 |
| Architect | O'Rourke, John F.; Union Bridge Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001577 |
| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1979 (original) May 20, 2008 (additional documentation) |
The Walkway over the Hudson is a super long bridge that crosses the Hudson River in New York. It connects the cities of Poughkeepsie on the east side and Highland on the west side. This amazing bridge is also known by other names like the Poughkeepsie Bridge or the High Bridge.
It was first built as a railroad bridge and opened way back on January 1, 1889. Trains used to cross it as part of the Maybrook Railroad Line. Today, it's famous for being the longest pedestrian (walking) bridge in the world!
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Discover the Walkway Over the Hudson
The Walkway over the Hudson is a steel cantilever bridge. A cantilever bridge is a special type of bridge that uses structures that stick out horizontally, supported only at one end. Think of a diving board – that's a cantilever! This design helps the bridge span long distances.
From Railroad to Pedestrian Park
For many years, the Poughkeepsie Bridge was a busy railroad bridge. However, on May 8, 1974, a fire damaged it, and it was no longer used by trains. For a long time, the bridge sat unused.
But people had a great idea! They wanted to turn the old railroad bridge into a place where everyone could walk and enjoy the amazing views. So, on October 3, 2009, the bridge reopened as a pedestrian walkway. It became part of the new Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.
Who Manages the Walkway?
The New York State Bridge Authority is in charge of keeping the bridge structure safe and in good shape. The park itself, where people walk and visit, is managed by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
This park is very popular! In 2017, nearly 600,000 people visited the Walkway.
Connecting Trails and Longest Walkway
The Walkway over the Hudson connects two popular trails: the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Highland and the Dutchess Rail Trail in Poughkeepsie. This means you can walk or bike for many miles, enjoying the beautiful scenery.
At 6,768 feet long (that's about 1.28 miles!), the Walkway over the Hudson is the longest pedestrian footbridge in the world. The second longest is the Mile Into the Wild Walkway in Colorado, which is 4,800 feet long.
Images for kids
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Poughkeepsie Bridge around 1900
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Poughkeepsie Bridge in the late 20th century
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A close-up view of the concrete path and original steel structure
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The elevator that takes visitors up to the Walkway from Upper Landing Park
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The walkway shortly after it opened to the public
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