The Roebling Suspension Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of New York City. When you see it in your favorite movies and TV shows, you know instantly what it is and where your story is taking place. This famous bridge is the ultimate master work of bridge builder John A. Roebling. To truly appreciate the history and architecture of the Big Apple’s greatest bridge, we need to examine her prototype. 650 miles south-east in Cincinnati Ohio you can find the John A. Roebling suspension bridge.
Spanning 1,057 feet this “first bridge over the Ohio” was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1866. A title it would hold until surpassed by it’s younger sister in Brooklyn when she opened in 1883. Although several bridges now span the Ohio River connecting the states of Ohio and Kentucky, the Roebling bridge proved quite controversial in its day. Cincinnati was an economic powerhouse, and Ohio feared that providing easy transport between the two states would see nearby Covington siphon away some of that dominance.
Over her 155 years of existence the bridge has seen several upgrades and renovations. Although the stone towers had been over-engineered to the point that they can support modern traffic, the supply-chain interruptions of the Civil War meant that the actual roadways of the bridge were built to the barest minimum standards. Today the bridge supports 2 lanes of vehicular traffic (although an 11 ton weight limit means no commercial trucks), as well as 2 lanes of pedestrian traffic. Current state the bridge is closed to all vehicular traffic as it undergoes a major rehabilitation project to stabilize the bridge and ensure that it can continue to service the area for decades to come.
The bridge’s pedestrian lanes are set on the outer edges of the bridge, offering an uninterrupted view of the river, as well as breathtaking night views of both Cincinnati and Covington. During the warmer months this area of the city is constantly buzzing with activity, and you’ll find plenty of couples on a romantic stroll, as well as the younger crowd traversing back and forth between the hot-spots of these two cities. If you find yourself in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area at any point, it is well worth a trip to see the bridge or even drive over it if it's open. If the weather is the least bit warm though, you absolutely must make time to walk across the Ohio via this grand old bridge. The stunning architectural wonders of the bridge will be overshadowed only by the view.
