Thursday, March 5, 2026 – Manhattan Bridge: A Grand, Graceful Gateway
THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE
WHEN NEW
AND
IN THE 1990’S
BY BRIDGE PHOTOGRAPHER
DAVE FRIEDER
NYC URBANIST.COM
DAVE FRIEDER.COM
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
ISSUE #1639
Manhattan Bridge Foot Path During Construction
110 Years ago today the Manhattan Bridge opened to traffic. The bridge was the last of the East River bridges to be constructed, following the Brooklyn Bridge (1883) Williamsburg Bridge (1903) Queensboro Bridge (1909). Utilizing a weight-saving Warren Truss, the bridge was the first modern steel suspension bridge and paved the way for future record-breaking bridges. The grand Beaux-Arts arch and collonade entry on the Manhattan side of the bridge was designed by Carrere & Hastings and opened in 1915. On the Brooklyn side, two female figures representing Brooklyn and Manhattan designed by Daniel Chester French flanked the entrance to the bridge. The statues were later moved to the Brooklyn Museum.
Today the bridge carries over 450,000 commuters daily; 85,000 vehicles; 950 subway trains carrying 340,900 riders across four subway lines; and 4,000 bicyclists on a protected bike path. Over three-quarters of all bridge crossings are public transit!
Manhattan Bridge Foot Path During Construction
DAVEFRIEDER.COM 1990’S PHOTOS
Manhattan Bridge
Inside Brooklyn Tower View of Hatchway, 1995
Manhattan Bridge
Balcony Canopy and Clouds Brooklyn Tower 1997
Manhattan Bridge
Upper View of Brooklyn Tower from Main Cables 1996
Manhattan Bridge
View from Brooklyn Tower Balcony 1997
PHOTO OF THE DAY
Our campaign continues to have
this food truck garage cleaned up or closed
by the Sanitation Dept. Last summer it was
reported and still no permanent improvements.
East from a food truck…NO WAY!!
CREDITS
UNTAPPED NEW YORK
NATIONAL POSTAL MUSEUM/ SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM
All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.
Copyright © 2026 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com
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