BRIDGESPOTTING

Opened in 1903, the Williamsburg Bridge carries Delancey Street across the East River to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Williamsburg Bridge took over the title of world’s longest suspension bridge from the Brooklyn Bridge and held it until 1924. This was also the first bridge in the world to use steel towers. Suspension bridges prior to this, including Wheeling, Roebling, and Brooklyn, have towers built of stone, while Waco’s towers are made of brick.

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As historically important as this bridge is, it is a bit disappointing for bridge tourists. The industrial-age appearance is attractive from a distance, but the walk across the bridge is a little uncomfortable. The entire length of the sidewalk has been enclosed with a chain-link fence, and seems like a later appendage added to the bridge as an afterthought. It consists of a metal cage variously next to, between, above, or below the train and traffic decks. The enclosure of the sidewalk presents major challenges for getting optimal photographs in an area where good views and photographs are a major part of the attraction. There is also a remarkable amount of graffiti on the bridge, reducing its visual attractions.

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I have included a description of the bridge in my book, Bridgespotting Part 2: A Guide to Even More Bridges that Connect People, Places, and Times. However, I put this bridge into Chapter 10, Bridges Not For Tourists. It is a bridge that, based on its history, location, and visual appeal, should be able to attract bridgespotting tourists, but probably does not.