The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River connecting Lower Manhattan in New York City. Among the three suspension bridges constructed, it was the last bridge built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges. The Manhattan Bridge is a useful and toll-free alternate to the Brooklyn Bridge. It now has 7 lanes for vehicles with the ones for carriages long gone as well as four subway tracks upon which four transit train lines operate. More than 100 trains traverse its length at high speed in either direction on all days. It boasts progressively-designed separate bike and pedestrian paths. The north side features a 10-foot wide bike path, while the south side accommodates pedestrians with an 8-foot wide walkway. The bridge has served Manhattan and Brooklyn since 1909. Its role and achievements are perhaps sidelined in the dissonance that surrounds its design and the engineers and contractors who have been associated with it.
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River connecting Lower Manhattan in New York City.
The Manhattan Bridge was first planned as a traditional wire-cable suspension bridge to be used exclusively by trains. The work on the Manhattan Bridge began in the last quarter of 1901. When it was first opened, the tracks didn’t connect to any others. The elevated railway magnate Frederick Uhlmann proposed this span just north of the present site of the Manhattan Bridge in 1892. It was planned in conjunction with another one of his proposals, the Williamsburg Bridge. While Uhlmann’s railroad bridge was never constructed, the Williamsburg Bridge was approved in 1895 to handle mixed traffic.
Among the three suspension bridges constructed, the Manhattan Bridge was the last bridge built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges.
After the engineers inspecting the Manhattan Bridge found cracking and corrosion in 1978, they concluded that the cracking originated from one-sided trainloads on the outboard structures. In 1982, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) decided to rebuild the existing Manhattan Bridge and the work was to be carried out under three separate contracts, the first two for stiffening the side and main spans, followed by a third one for the installation of prefabricated panels on the lower roadway. The reconstruction project cost an approximation of $646 million and the bridge will carry about 150,000 vehicles per day (AADT).
The Manhattan Bridge is a useful and toll-free alternate to the Brooklyn Bridge. It now has 7 lanes for vehicles with the ones for carriages long gone as well as four subway tracks upon which four transit train lines operate.
The suspension cables and light blue towers make the bridge appear almost delicate in comparison to its neighbors. Pedestrians enjoy unusual views as they stroll across its expanse. Commuters in a hurry may rarely notice, but the entrance on the Canal Street side has an ornamental arch and large colonnades that lend an artistic and a grand touch to those who use the bridge with time to admire the surroundings. Integrated with a superb set of approaches designed by the renowned architectural team of Carrere and Hastings, the Manhattan Bridge is amongst the most esthetically pleasing of New York City’s transportation structures.
The Manhattan Bridge has served Manhattan and Brooklyn since 1909. Its role and achievements are perhaps sidelined in the dissonance that surrounds its design and the engineers and contractors who have been associated with it.
