Williamsburg Bridge

Williamsburg Bridge is a steel suspension bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn in the United States. The structure has two stacked levels and carries cars, subway trains, pedestrians, and cyclists across the East River.

Engineer Leffert L. Buck designed the double-deck system that opened in 1903 to move carriages and walkers between boroughs. Over the decades, lanes for automobiles and tracks for subway service were added.

The name recalls the Brooklyn neighborhood on the eastern shore, where shopkeepers and craftspeople have run businesses for generations. Walkers and cyclists share a wide pathway above while trains rumble underneath and cars stream past on the lower level.

The pedestrian walkway is best reached by staircases at both ends, while cyclists use separate ramps. The upper level stays open around the clock, though wind and weather can make it breezy up there.

Three subway lines run daily over tracks that branch into elevated routes on the eastern side. Walking or cycling above, you can feel the vibrations when a train passes underneath.

Location: Manhattan

Location: Brooklyn

Architects: Leffert L. Buck

Length: 2,227 m

Longest Span: 490 m

Made from material: steel

GPS coordinates: 40.71300,-73.97000

Latest update: December 13, 2025 16:18