Williamsburg Bridge Size report
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge across the East River in New York City, New York, United States, connecting Manhattan's Lower East Side with Brooklyn's Williamsburg and intersecting with Delancey Street in Manhattan. The bridge is one of four toll-free highway bridges connecting Manhattan Island to Long Island, the other three being the Queensboro Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Brooklyn Bridges.
The Williamsburg Bridge was approved on May 27, 1895, and construction began in 1896, marking the start of New York's second construction across the East River. Its chief engineer is Leffert L. Buck, and the architect is Henry Hornbostel. The Williamsburg Bridge was the largest suspension bridge on earth at the time and remained in place until the completion of the Xiongshan Bridge in 1924.
While you can no longer cross the bridge on horses and wagons, you can walk, bike, drive, or take the subway across this historic New York City bridge. Be careful when taking pictures as there are a lot of cars and pedestrians. Let's learn more about the actual size of the Williamsburg Bridge in this post.
Description of the Williamsburg Bridge Size
Construction of the Williamsburg Bridge started in 1896 and opened to traffic on December 19, 1903. The structure of The Williamsburg Bridge is not like a traditional suspension bridge. Suspension cables support the main span in the middle, but the bridge section connecting the land and the main span on both sides is composed of trusses. Because the Williamsburg Bridge is built from a steel tower structure, it is not as grand and attractive as the Gothic stone buildings like the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge are two bridges in New York City that still carry cars and railroads. Currently, the bridge carries eight car lanes and two subway lines (JMZ lines), and pedestrians and bicycles can also pass. The bridge's opening made the ferries originally located on both sides of the river gradually disappear, but you can still see yachts and taxis on the river.
Dimensions of the Williamsburg Bridge
The main span of the Williamsburg Bridge is about 488 meters (1,600 feet) long, the total length of the bridge is 2,227 meters (7,306 feet), and the bridge deck is 36 meters (118 feet) wide, making it the largest suspension bridge in the world at that time. The bridge height at the midpoint is 41 meters (135 feet) above the water, and the tower is 102 meters (335 feet) high.
Facts | Size |
---|---|
Total Length | 2,227 m (7,306 ft) |
Width | 36 m (118 ft) |
Longest Span | 488 m (1,600 ft) |
Tower Height | 102 m (335 ft) |
Clearance Below | 41 m (135 ft) |
Final Words
The Williamsburg Bridge is still open to cars, subways, and pedestrians simultaneously. The New York subway JMZ line passes through the bridge, and you can see beautiful sunsets and sea views every night. Williamsburg in Brooklyn is a hip art district in New York. Thanks to its historical blend of ethnicities, Williamsburg is today a diverse community known for its independent cafés, boutiques, and famous Brooklyn breweries. The Williamsburg Bridge is also one of New York City's many architectural gems. Still, such a historic, 114-year-old iconic bridge will likely attract a new name soon: the Sonny Rollins Bridge.