Walkway over the Hudson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Walkway over the Hudson
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)
Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
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 University of Wisconsin varsity sport rowing team competing in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association regatta on June 11, 1914 at the Poughkeepsie Bridge

The Walkway over the Hudson (also known as the Poughkeepsie Bridge, Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge, and High Bridge) is a steel cantilever bridge spanning the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, New York, on the east bank and Highland, New York, on the west bank. Built as a double track railroad bridge, it was completed on January 1, 1889, and formed part of the Maybrook Railroad Line of the New Haven Railroad.

It was taken out of service on May 8, 1974, after it was damaged by fire. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, and its entry updated in 2008.

It was reopened on October 3, 2009, as a pedestrian walkway as part of the new Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. The New York State Bridge Authority owns and is charged with maintaining the bridge structure (as directed by the Governor and Legislature in July 2010). The park is operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. In 2017, the walkway hosted 593,868 visitors. The park connects the Hudson Valley Rail Trail in Highland to the Dutchess Rail Trail, and forms part of the proposed Empire State Trail.

At a length of 6,768 feet, it is the world's longest pedestrian footbridge. The 4,800 foot long Mile Into the Wild Walkway in Keenesburg, Colorado is second.

Images for kids

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  Poughkeepsie Bridge ca. 1900

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  Poughkeepsie Bridge in the late 20th century

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  Detail of concrete decking and original steel structure

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  The elevator as seen from Upper Landing Park

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  The walkway shortly after its opening