The Brooklyn Bridge.
One of the most iconic and profound structures in New York City is the Brooklyn Bridge. This immense engineering feat has been the gateway between Manhattan island and Brooklyn for over a century, and can be considered another “Wonder of the World”. With this bridge, Brooklyn gained access to the city like never before, and promoted a dynamic that continued to make New York an ever-greater city. In this article, I will discuss the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge and its effect on New York City.
Great towers were erected in the East River
Largest scale wire was twisted across the river
Market alliance benefited Manhattan and Brooklyn for trade and its people greatly
The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge was an epic work of engineering. John Roebling was the visionary who had worked in civil engineering for years and developed the plan to construct a bridge of unparalleled magnitude at the time. In 1867, the city approved construction and in 1869, the building of the first steel suspension bridge began. However, due to severe injury to his leg, John Roebling died before construction began. Under the management of Washington Roebling, his son, were the builders able to erect massive stone towers that reached deep into the East River. Though while fighting illness and isolation, his wife, Emily contributed greatly to instructing the workers on the project as Washington would watch from his window [1]. Then, they were also able stretch giant steel cables across approximately 1600-foot from tower to tower in order to suspend a roadway for thousands of vehicles to cross each day [2].
In order to suspend a roadway, cables needed to be hung high above the river while considering for the slack of the cables. An ingenious idea was proposed to build massive towers that lie in the river. Then steel wires, much stronger than all other types of available metals, would be used to cross the river, twisted to amplify strength and hang a roadway. This idea had been applied before, but never to this scale. Wire, millimeters in diameter, would have to be wound to feet in diameter while stretching across the East River, over 3400 feet in length [3]. And yet, this was achieved through perseverance and continued ingenuity.
To build the Brooklyn tower first, a concrete “room” was boated to the tower position and dropped to sink to the bottom of the river. Then workers would elevator themselves through the water to the room, and dig out the edges of the “room” to sink the concrete further through weak dirt. When the “room” reached the bedrock, which is difficult to break through and therefore very stable, the concrete room would become the base for the tower. At this point, the tower of granite would be erected. This was also done for the Manhattan tower; however, with the added risk of not reaching the bedrock of the spot because the sandy dirt slowed descent significantly and they were unsure how much deeper until the reach the bedrock. It seemed stable enough [1].
Each tower was well-crafted into two passages with great arches resembling doorways of a cathedral. Now that’s not easy style build. From high holes in these towers, steel wires would be cast across and then twisted. When the first wire was across, men would be able to zip line across with rope to pull them along and the wire to hold them as they hang from a “bucket”. They would bring the next wire with them from tower to tower, and powerful machinery would twist the thin wires until it was feet in diameter. When the four major cables were completed, one section of roadway would be suspended one cable at a time until all sections were connected below [1].
Two roadways were completed in 1883 after 14 years, and two gateways emerged to enter the Great City of Manhattan and spread its wealth with the return gateway to Brooklyn. More was now possible. As a result, the people of the city could relieve themselves with residency on Long Island and the people of Brooklyn could combine economies with the city. An alliance that would surpass lifetimes. With that, people can still walk and ride across the bridge today like a long boardwalk, connecting Manhattan City Hall and Brooklyn City Hall neighborhoods.
By Nick Borak
Places to Visit
Brooklyn Bridge
A cathedral-like bridge connecting Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan City Hall over the East River.
Brooklyn Bridge Park - Brooklyn Heights
Beautiful park underneath bridge along the water, connecting to DUMBO, and soccer fields, sport courts and beach volleyball. There are restaurants and ice cream store.
Seaport - Manhattan
Near bridge on Manhattan side, Seaport is an old-style neighborhood with many brand shops, events and an old ship on the water.
Sources
FANTASTIC VIDEO TO UNDERSTAND HISTORY AND ENGINEERING OF THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
[1] Brooklyn Bridge. How Do They Do It? Discovery Channel. 17 January 2018. Video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nevq4bdaHXA
[2] Brooklyn Bridge. History Channel. History.com. 17 January 2018.
http://www.history.com/topics/brooklyn-bridge
[3] Brooklyn Bridge. Building Big. PBS.org. 17 January 2018.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/brooklyn.html
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