Spuyten Duyvil Bridge, Railway swing bridge in northern Manhattan, United States
Spuyten Duyvil Bridge is a railway swing bridge that crosses the Harlem River with a length of approximately 190 meters (620 feet). Its central rotating section enables boat traffic to pass, making it an active working structure rather than a static crossing.
The bridge was built in 1900 as a replacement for an earlier iron structure completed in 1895 that had become inadequate. This new construction established a vital rail connection between Manhattan and the mainland.
The bridge's name comes from Dutch settlers who called the waterway 'spuitend duivel', referencing the treacherous currents that once made passage risky. This naming reflects the early colonial perspective on the challenging geography of northern Manhattan.
The bridge is viewable from the surrounding area along the Harlem River, particularly from the Inwood neighborhood in upper Manhattan where it crosses. Pedestrians can walk along the riverfront to observe the structure, though the bridge itself is reserved for train traffic.
In 2018, engineers used one of the world's largest floating cranes to lift the heavy bridge spans during maintenance work. This specialized operation demonstrates the complex engineering required to maintain such infrastructure.
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