Interesting Facts about Brooklyn Bridge - Fun Facts about Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York, which stretches over the East River. The first steel-wire suspension bridge to be built in the world, it was initially known as ‘New York and Brooklyn Bridge’. The present name dates back to 1915, when it was declared so by the city government. Brooklyn Bridge serves as the main mode of transportation for those traveling from Manhattan Island to the Western Shore of Brooklyn. In case you want to know more about the bridge, make use of the fun and interesting facts provided in the lines below.

Fun & Interesting Facts about Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge is situated in New York and is maintained by New York City Department of Transportation
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States.
Brooklyn Bridge connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
At the time of its completion, Brooklyn Bridge was the largest suspension bridge in the world.
Brooklyn Bridge is the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world.
Initially, Brooklyn Bridge was known as ‘New York and Brooklyn Bridge’. It was given its present name by the city government, in 1915.
In 1964, Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Landmark.
The construction work on Brooklyn Bridge started on January 3, 1870 and took as many as 13 years to be complete.
Brooklyn Bridge was opened for use on May 24, 1883. On that day, 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed the bridge.
At the time of its construction, Brooklyn Bridge was the only land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The main span of Brooklyn Bridge, over the East River, is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m).
The cost of construction of Brooklyn Bridge came to somewhere around $15.5 million.
Brooklyn Bridge was designed by John Augustus Roebling, a German-born person.
It is said that during the construction of Brooklyn Bridge, as many as 27 people died, including John Roebling.
Since 1980s, Brooklyn Bridge is being floodlit at night, mainly to emphasize its architectural features.
The towers of Brooklyn Bridge are built of limestone, granite and Rosendale cement, while their architectural style is Gothic.
Presently, Brooklyn Bridge has six lanes for motor vehicles and a separate walkway, along the centerline, for pedestrians and bicycles.
The height (11 feet) and weight (6,000 lb) of Brooklyn Bridge has made it necessary to put restrictions on its use by commercial vehicles and buses.
Elevated trains and streetcars were allowed on Brooklyn Bridge until 1944 and 1950, respectively. Thereafter, their entry was banned.
On March 24, 1983 Brooklyn Bridge was designated a National Historic Engineering Landmark.
On May 19, 1885, Robert E. Odlum became the first person to jump from the Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most popular as well as the most known landmarks in New York.

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