Location: East River between Canal Street,
Manhattan and Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, New York
Architect: Leon Moisseiff
Date Completed: 1909
Built of steel, this two-level suspension bridge is often mistakenly attributed to Gustav
Lindenthal, who submitted a plan for the bridge in 1903 that was rejected by city leaders
for its structural innovations.
The entrance to the bridge on Canal Street is decorated by a grand arch and flanking
colonnades designed by Carrerre and Hastings.
The bridge is 6855 feet (2091 meters) long, with a main span of 1470 feet (462 meters).
The upper level has four vehicular lanes and a pedestrian walk; the lower level has three
vehicular lanes and four subway tracks.
The Manhattan Bridge's steel towers are painted a pleasing dusty blue, which when combined
with the delicate suspension cables make this massive bridge seem as light and airy as the
Brooklyn Bridge seems heavy and substantial.
Situated between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Williamsburg Bridge, a walk across the
Manhattan Bridge is an excellent opportunity to view all three.
Manhattan Bridge
