Between 2008 and the end of 2010, six New York City bridges will turn 100 years old, and the newly formed New York City Bridge Centennial Commission will be making sure they're adequately feted. The six centennial spans are the Madison Avenue, Manhattan, Borden Avenue, Pelham Bay, University Heights and Queensboro bridges.
The celebrations were announced this morning by Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler and other officials at Tramway Park the base of the Queensboro Bridge. Events will include exhibitions of original designs, rare tours of the historic bridges, "bike-boat-walking tours," and other festivities for each bridge as they hit the 100 mark. We take a close look at the six birthday bridges below.
The Borden Avenue Bridge in Sunnyside, Queens turned 100 on March 25th. According to the DOT, the general appearance of the bridge remains the same as when it was first opened in 1908, at a cost of $157,606. Along with the Carroll Street Bridge, this is the only other retractile type moveable bridge left in New York City. Character-defining features of this one include the stucco-clad operator's house, four pairs of rails, and a rock-faced stone retaining wall. The gable-on-hip roof of the operator's house retains the original clay tile at the upper part. (Photo: Bridge Centennial Commission.)






what about roebling's erection?
Thanks to the Madison Ave bridge I can walk from Harlem to the Bronx and catch the 4/5. I'm gonna party hard for its birthday in '10.
If by Roebling's erection you mean the Brooklyn Bridge, the centenary celebration of that span was held in 1983 and featured a wonderful fireworks exhibition over the bridge.
Nearly-Happy Birthday,Manhattan bridge!
Oh, and it's not really known yet if Cloverfield's monster was in fact an alien. And it was only the big on that smack-downed the Brooklyn Bridge.
Good point, Kingpin. Duly noted.
The Manhattan Bridge is a beautiful Bridge, but I've seen it tilt and sway every time a train goes over. That can't be normal. No wonder so much constant maintenance has to be done.
Wikipedia:
"...was designed and built by Polish bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski with the deflection cables designed by Leon Moisseiff, who later designed the infamous Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940."
Those Wacky Polish Engineers. They crack me up.