High Bridge (New York City)
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| High Bridge | |
|---|---|
 Three of the bridges that cross the Harlem River are visible in this photo of the river: High Bridge (with the steel arch that replaced the masonry spans over the river visible) in the foreground; the Alexander Hamilton Bridge (part of Interstate 95); and the Washington Bridge farthest away. In this photo, looking north, the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan is on the left and the Bronx is on the right) |
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| Crosses | Harlem River |
| Locale | Manhattan and the Bronx, in New York City |
| Maintained by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Design | Arch bridge |
| Vertical clearance | 102 ft |
| Opening date | 1848 |
The High Bridge (officially, the Aqueduct Bridge) is a stone masonry arch bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet (40 m) over the Harlem River, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx. It is closed to all traffic but is the oldest surviving bridge in New York City. The bridge was built as part of the Croton Aqueduct, which carried water from the Croton River to supply the city. It was designed by the aqueduct's engineering team led by John B. Jervis. James Renwick, Jr., who later went on to design New York's landmark Saint Patrick's Cathedral on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, participated in the design.
The Croton Aqueduct had to cross the Harlem River at some point, and the method was a major design decision. A tunnel under the river was considered, but tunneling technology was in its infancy at the time, and the uncertainty of pursuing this option led to its rejection. This left a bridge, with the Water Commission, engineers and the public split between a low bridge and a high bridge. A low bridge would have been simpler, faster, and cheaper to construct. When concerns were raised to the New York Legislature that a low bridge would obstruct passage along the Harlem River to the Hudson River, a high bridge was ultimately chosen.
As designed, the High Bridge had the appearance of a Roman aqueduct, but in the 1920s, a steel arch about 450 feet (135 m), was added to replace the several masonry arches that spanned the river. The bridge was started in 1837, and completed in 1848. It has a length of well over 2,000 feet (600 m). The eastern end is located in The Bronx near the western end of West 170th Street, and the western end is located in Highbridge Park in Manhattan, roughly parallel to the end of West 173rd Street. The bridge is operated and maintained by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
Officials were thinking of closing the bridge in mid 1960s due to disrepair. In 1970 a pedestrian threw a rock from the bridge to a tour boat, and the bridge closed. In November 2006 it was announced that the bridge will reopen after a $20 million renovation project. The bridge is expected to reopen to pedestrians in 2009. With the $20 million renovation, the arch will be stronger, staircases will improve, cameras will be placed on both ends of the bridge, boat beacon lights will be added, and more.[1]
[edit] Aqueduct
The High Bridge was part of the first reliable and plentiful water supply system in New York City. As the City was devastated by fire and disease in 1830s, the inadequacy of the water system of wells-and-cisterns became apparent. Numerous corrective measures were examined. In the final analysis only the Croton River, located in northern Westchester County was found to be sufficient in quantity and quality to serve the needs of the City. The delivery system was begun in 1837, and was completed in 1848.
The Old Croton Aqueduct was the first of its kind ever constructed in the United States. The innovative system used a classic gravity feed, running 41 miles into New York City through an enclosed masonry structure crossing ridges, valleys, and rivers. University Avenue was later built over the southernmost mainland portion of the aqueduct, leading to the bridge. The High Bridge soars 138 feet above the 620 foot-wide Harlem River, with a total length of 1450 feet. The bridge was designed with a pedestrian walkway atop the Aqueduct and was not used for vehicular traffic. The bridge, obsolete due to the New Croton Aqueduct, ceased to carry water in 1917. In the 1920s the bridge's center masonry arches were declared a hazard to navigation and replaced by a single steel span.
[edit] References
- ^ Hughes, C. J. "Living In: High Bridge, The Bronx - Home of the Bronx Roar", The New York Times, May 20, 2007. Accessed May 27, 2007.
[edit] External links
- New York City Department of Parks: High Bridge
- NYCRoads.com: High Bridge (Aqueduct Bridge)
- 2004 article about restoration plans
- High Bridge (New York City) is at coordinates Coordinates:
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