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Manhattan Bridge Turns 100!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 2, 2009
Modified Oct 2, 2009
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Oct 2, 2009
Modified Oct 2, 2009
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The 6855-foot-long Manhattan Bridge is turning 100! With a newly reopened archway on the Brooklyn side, it's hardly looking like a centenarian, but the ol' girl's been through a lot, and has a fairly flawed history behind her. The construction for the bridge began in October of 1901, but wasn't open to traffic until December 31, 1909. Once it was put to use, Time Out notes it was realized that designer Leon Moisseiff "didn’t incorporate sufficient support, and placed the subway and streetcar lines on the outer edges of the roadway, putting too much strain on the deck."
While the bridge may sway, it isn't falling down anytime soon. And now that it's at the tail end of a massive reconstruction project, perhaps it's finally time to celebrate it.
This weekend, and through the 11th, you can take part in the celebration through a series of events; including parades, walking and bike tours, and fireworks! Full details can be found here.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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