The Brooklyn Bridge Part VIII: Additional Information About the Brooklyn Bridge ©

Construction:

C First bridge in the world to be lit by electricity at night.

C First suspension bridge to use galvanized steel wires in its main cables.

C Cincinnati-Covington Bridge, sister of the Brooklyn Bridge, also built by John A. Roebling, opened in 1866, is the only other suspension bridge in the United States to have stone towers.

Maintenance:

C Today, some 30 New York City Department of Transportation workers look after the bridge.

C It is supposed to be repainted every five years but this is not always on schedule.

C Epoxy paints are used.

Physical Structure:

Length:

C River Span: 1,595 feet.

C 5,989 feet in total length including approaches and land spans twice as long as any previous bridge built at its opening in 1883.

C 85 feet wide at bridge floor.

Cables:

C Number of cables: 4.

C Diameter of each cable: 15 3/4 inches.

C Length: 3,578 feet 6 inches.

C Number of wires in each cable: 5,434.

C Total length of wire in each cable: 3,515 miles.

C Number of wires in each strand: 286.

C Number of strands in each cable: 19.

C Weight of each cable: 7,732,086 pounds.

C Pull strength of each cable: 24, 621,780 pounds.

Foundations:

C Depth of Brooklyn side: 44 feet 6 inches below high water.

C Depth of Manhattan side: 78 feet 6 inches.

C Height of each Tower: 276 feet 6 inches.

C Weight of each anchorage: 60,000 tons

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