Grand Street Bridge, Swing and truss bridges at Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens, US
The Grand Street Bridge is a steel swing bridge with a truss structure that crosses Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens. It features two vehicle lanes and pedestrian walkways on both sides that serve foot and vehicle traffic alike.
The current structure was completed in 1902 and replaced two older crossings from 1875 and 1890 that experienced structural and navigation problems. The replacement design reflected the city's growing need for better industrial transport infrastructure.
The bridge stands as an engineering example from the early 1900s, connecting the neighborhoods of Williamsburg in Brooklyn and Maspeth in Queens.
The crossing is accessible to both pedestrians and vehicles, with walkways provided on both sides. Visitors should be aware that the bridge occasionally closes for ship passage, which may affect travel times.
The bridge still operates its swing mechanism to allow ships passage on the creek, making it a rare functioning example of early 1900s engineering. Its openings have become increasingly rare as waterway traffic patterns have changed dramatically.
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