Washington Bridge    

The Washington Bridge spanning the Harlem River was conceived and designed when the population of Manhattan started to move northward after the Civil War. In 1868 the Board of Commissioners of Central Park undertook a study to create a means of transportation between Manhattan and the Bronx. The Bronx was still considered part of Westchester County until the 1870s.

In June 1885 the Mayor, Comptroller and the President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City appointed three Commissioners for the construction of such a bridge. The following year construction started under the direction of William Jarvis McAlpine, who resigned a few months later after establishing construction of the bridge. William Hutton succeeded McAlpine to ensure that the job would be completed.

The bridge was designed by Charles Conrad Schneider, who won first prize for the bridge contest. It has two main spans that are 510 feet each in length. Both spans consist of six arches composed of steel plated girders that are riveted together, which makes the bridge the first of its kind to do so. The total length of the bridge is 2,375 feet and the width of the roadway is 66 feet. The pedestrian walkways increase the width of the bridge to 80 feet.

The Washington Bridge was referred to as the glory of the Harlem River. The New York Times described the bridge as follows: “[The Washington Bridge] is one of the most imposing, beautiful and substantial to be found anywhere about the metropolis, and is especially interesting as a perfect and consistent edifice in the arched style of bridge architecture.”

Construction was begun on October 1, 1886, and was completed in two years. The bridge was opened to pedestrian traffic on December 1, 1888. The bridge was formally opened to all traffic on February 22, 1889. The cost of the original structure was $3,000,000. It was initially scheduled to be opened for George Washington’s birthday in 1889, but due to bad weather and arguments among the bridge’s commissioners delayed the official opening to April 30th in time for the centennial of Washington’s Inauguration.

As traffic needs became greater, the bridge was modified to accommodate more vehicles. In 1906, the first automobiles gained access to the bridge. During the 1940s and 1950s the roadway deck was modified to permit a 66-foot-wide roadway with 6 traffic lanes and two 6-foot-wide pedestrian lanes.

The bridge suffers an identity crisis. It shares its name with the George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River.

During the 1950s the bridge was used by spectators to watch the rowing teams of Columbia University and Manhattan College. Regattas on the Harlem River were also observed from the bridge. The original bronze lamp posts were removed for standard highway lights.

On April 28, 1989, the bridge had its centennial anniversary. Dignitaries from the Mayor’s office as well as local politicians and civic organizations from the Bronx and Manhattan were in attendance for the occasion.

In 1982 the Washington Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

For more information, visit NYCRoads.com and Transportation Alternatives.

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Readers’ Comments

Mr Renner, I truly enjoy your presentation… I walked the vibrating bridge often in the wee hours. ?.I attended Manhattan Prep and college in the 50s..I dont remember a skulling team…Perhaps it was NYU? Ray (Posted by Ray O'Prey on January 9, 2005 05:10 PM.)

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