The Brooklyn Bridge turns 140: the fascination of a symbol. PHOTO

May 24, 1883: The Brooklyn Bridge opens in New York. 140 years have passed since that day. Designed by German engineer John Augustus Roebling, the bridge connects the island of Manhattan with the borough of Brooklyn and crosses the East River. Today it is one of the symbols of the city. A monument photographed and recognized all over the world

Snow in New York, the Brooklyn Bridge whitewashed. PHOTO

The Brooklyn bridge project was presented in 1867. Work to build it began three years later, precisely on January 3, 1870, during the presidency of Ulysses S. Grant. The cost of the work was 15.5 million dollars at the time –

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600 workers were employed to build the Brooklyn Bridge. Of these, 27 died during the 13 years of construction. Most died of air embolism after diving into underwater excavation chambers –

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The bridge measures just over 1,800 meters in length, is 84 high and 26 wide. Its characteristic is that it is made up of four anchored steel cables fixed to special plates (one for each cable) contained within caps of granite up to 3 meters high and placed at the ends of the bridge itself. Each cable is made from 5,657 meters of galvanized steel wire to make it resistant to wind and rain –

Snow in New York, the Brooklyn Bridge whitewashed. PHOTO

From the day it opened in 1883 until 1903, the Brooklyn Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world. Then, 20 years later, the record passed to the nearby Williamsburg Bridge, also in New York, with its 2,227 meters in length –

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Within the foundations of the bridge, on the Brooklyn side, the plan included a shopping arcade. It was not very successful and the space ended up being used for various artistic performances until, in 2001, it was closed for safety reasons. In 2006, workers discovered a Cold War safe house in one of the vaults on the Manhattan side of the bridge, complete with medical equipment, blankets and more than 300,000 packages of crackers. Of course they were out of date –

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The Brooklyn Bridge has now become one of the best known symbols of the city of New York. This is how the panorama of the Big Apple seen from above looks like. Over time, the Manhattan Bridge was added to connect Manhattan with the Brooklyn neighborhood, inaugurated in 1912 –

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The bridge has changed its name several times. Initially it was called “New York and Brooklyn Bridge” (“Bridge of New York and Brooklyn”), then it became “East River Bridge” (“Bridge of East River”). Finally, in 1915, it was officially named “Brooklyn Bridge” (“Brooklyn Bridge”) and has remained so. Here the fireworks show during the celebrations of the 4th of July, Independence day –

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The bridge has been the scene of some tragedies. First of all, the 27 workers who disappeared during construction. Its designer, Roebling, also lost his life after an accident on the bridge. Even after the opening the tragic deaths did not cease. In 1883, a woman’s heel caught between the planks of the pedestrian area and she started screaming, causing people around to believe that the bridge was about to collapse. The panic claimed the lives of 12 people, all crushed on the stairs –

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The Brooklyn Bridge today, as well as a symbol of New York and a tourist destination, is an important axis for urban traffic. There are six lanes designated for motor vehicles: 3 in the direction of Manhattan, as many in the opposite direction. It is estimated that 100,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day –

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The bridge, however, is not only intended for car and bus traffic. It is possible to go from Manhattan to Brooklyn, and vice versa, even on foot. In fact, the lanes located in the central part of the work are reserved for pedestrians. According to statistics, 4,000 pedestrians cross the bridge every day –

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Motor vehicles, but also bicycles. The central lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge are used not only for pedestrian traffic but also as a bicycle lane. It is estimated that 2,600 bicycles cross the bridge in both directions every day –

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The Brooklyn Bridge has always been a tourist destination and, above all, an ideal vantage point for taking pictures and taking selfies –

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One of the curiosities surrounding the Brooklyn Bridge is that it is also populated by peregrine falcons. These birds use the two towers to make their nests. This is why it is not unusual that when you are around here, if you raise your head a little, you see the comings and goings of the birds –

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