Want to know it? Who Built the Brooklyn Bridge
By: Want To Know It
The Brooklyn Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City that is built over the East River to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn. It is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States and until 1903 was the longest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is 1825 m (5,989 feet) long and 26 m (85 feet) wide. The bridge is built to carry cars, pedestrians and bicycles, although it once carried elevated trains and streetcars. The Brooklyn Bridge is toll free and is reported to carry over 120,000 vehicles each day. If you have ever wanted to know who built the Brooklyn Bridge, continue reading to find out.
Who built the Brooklyn Bridge?
The initial designs for the Brooklyn Bridge were completed by architect John Augustus Roebling. He had much experience designing suspension bridges, but suffered an accident during surveying for the project when a ferry crushed his foot against a piling. Unfortunately he developed tetanus and died. Before his death he passed the project onto his son Washington Roebling. He also suffered a serious injury, decompression sickness, just after construction had began in 1870. He was no longer able to supervise the project and he handed this responsibility to his wife Emily Warren Roebling. She relayed his instructions to the workers at the construction site. Her husband eventually recovered, but she spent the next 11 years assisting him with overseeing the bridge’s construction. The Brooklyn Bridge took 13 years to complete and was opened to the public on May 24, 1883.
Did you know?
A rumor about a possible collapse of the bridge spread just days after opening and the resulting stampede caused 11 deaths.
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