University Heights Bridge, Steel swing bridge across Harlem River, New York
The University Heights Bridge connects West 207th Street in Manhattan with West Fordham Road in the Bronx across the Harlem River, featuring four traffic lanes and sidewalks for pedestrians. Its steel swing mechanism can lift to allow ships and barges to pass through the waterway below.
The structure originated from the former Broadway Bridge, which was relocated downstream and reassembled at its current location between 1907 and 1908. This relocation was an unusual engineering solution to expand transportation connections between the two boroughs.
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the University Heights Bridge as an official landmark in September 1984, recognizing its engineering value.
The bridge carries significant daily traffic, including public transportation buses that cross regularly on its lanes. Pedestrians can use the designated sidewalks, though visitors should be aware of active vehicle movement at all times.
The bridge received official landmark status in 1984, recognized for its engineering achievement and historical significance. This designation reflects how the structure demonstrates a creative solution to a 19th-century transportation problem through innovative construction techniques.
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