Williamsburg Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Williamsburg Bridge |
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| Carries | 8 lanes of roadway, 2 tracks of the New York City Subway, pedestrians, and bicycles |
| Crosses | East River |
| Locale | Manhattan and Brooklyn, in New York City |
| Maintained by | New York City Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge and truss causeways |
| Total length | 7,308 feet (2,227 m) |
| Width | 118 feet (36 m) |
| Longest span | 1,600 feet (490 m) |
| Clearance above | 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m) (inner roadways only) |
| Clearance below | 135 feet (41 m) at mean high water |
| History | |
| Architect | Henry Hornbostel |
| Designer | Leffert L. Buck |
| Opened | December 19, 1903 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 106,783 (2008) |
| Toll | Free |
The Williamsburg Bridge is a large suspension bridge in New York City. It connects two important parts of the city: Manhattan and Brooklyn. The bridge first opened on December 19, 1903. It is free for everyone to cross.
Building the Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge started being built in 1896. It was a very big project for its time. The total cost to build it was $24,200,000. This was a huge amount of money back then!
When it opened, the Williamsburg Bridge was special. It was the longest suspension bridge in the world. It held this record for many years, until 1924.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
Since the 1980s, the bridge has been rebuilt and repaired. This work helps keep it safe and strong. In 1988, the bridge had to close for a short time. This was because engineers found cracks in its structure.
During these updates, a special path was added. This path is for people who want to ride bicycles across the bridge. It also has space for pedestrians to walk.
Celebrating its History
In 2003, the Williamsburg Bridge turned 100 years old. People in New York City celebrated this big birthday. On June 22, 2003, a party was held right on the bridge.
In 2009, the bridge received a special honor. It was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This means it's recognized as an important example of engineering.
Train Tracks on the Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is not just for cars and bikes. It also carries New York City Subway tracks. These tracks are part of the BMT Nassau Street Line. This allows subway trains to travel between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
In the early 1900s, the bridge also had tracks for trolley cars. Trolleys were like electric buses that ran on tracks. They were a common way to travel back then.
Images for kids
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The bridge was damaged by fire while under construction in 1902
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The full bridge, seen from Wallabout Bay
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A view of the train tracks on the bridge
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Continental Army Plaza, near the bridge
See also
In Spanish: Puente de Williamsburg para niños
