Monday, December 11, 2023

1888,1992 Washington Bridge over Harlem River in New York, NY

(Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Historic Bridges; HAERSatellite)

Street View, Mar 2022

Street View, Aug 2023

HAER NY,31-NEYO,162--2
2. VIEW OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE WITH MANHATTAN IN THE BACKGROUND - Washington Bridge, Spanning Harlem River at One-hundred-eighty-first, New York County, NY

"Two-span steel arch; total length, 2,375 feet [724m]; 141 feet [43m] above normal water; two central spans of 510 feet [155m]; result of design competition; 3,342 tons of steel; cost $2.85 million; arched masonry approach spans" [HAER_data]

It would have cost almost $100m in 2023 dollars.
inflation

Bridges Now and Then posted and Google eBook, p164, rotated
New York City's Washington Bridge over the Harlem River, March 23, 1888. (Historic Bridges)

Tom Venditto commented on the above post

The length of the main spans exceeds those of the Eads Bridge across the Mississippi River in St. Louis, a bridge that is often considered the most impressive steel-arch bridge of its time. Each of the main spans is actually made up of six parallel arches that carry the traffic loads to the masonry foundations.

The designs submitted to the competition were:
  • Suspension bridge with an 800-foot-long main span; designed by William J. McAlpine.
  • Cantilever-arch bridge with a 428-foot-long main span, two 250-foot-long side spans and steel-viaduct approaches; designed by William J. McAlpine.
  • Steel-and-masonry arch bridge with a main 543-foot-long steel-arch span, flanked by masonry side spans and approaches; designed by Buck and McNulty.
  • Masonry-arch bridge with three 350-foot-long main spans; designed by Union Bridge Company.
  • Steel-arch bridge with two 510-foot-long main spans and masonry approaches; designed by C.C. Schneider.
This photo shows a segment of the arch being lifted into place.
Google eBook, p166, rotated

Note the hole in the falsework to allow boats to pass through.
Google eBook, p178, rotated
 
The Alexander Hamilton Bridge is framed by the Washington Bridge and the High Bridge is in the left background.
Street View, Mar 2022

Historic Bridges notes that the ornate railings have been retained.
Street View, Nov 2017

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