Facts from Steve Anderson's
Crossings of New York about the Brooklyn Bridge
Type of bridge ……………………………………… Suspension
Construction started ……………………………… January 3, 1870
Opened to traffic …………………………………… May 24, 1883
Length of main span ……………………………… 1,595 feet, 6 inches
Length of side spans ………………………………… 930 feet
Length, anchorage to anchorage …………………… 3,455 feet, 6 inches
Total length of bridge and approaches ……………… 6,016 feet
Width of bridge ……………………………………… 85 feet
Number of traffic lanes ……………………………… 6 lanes
Number of cables …………………………………… 4 cables
Height of towers above mean high water …………… 276 feet, 6 inches
Clearance at center above mean high water ……… 135 feet
Length of each of four cables ……………………… 3,578 feet, 6 inches
Diameter of each cable ……………………………… 15 ¾ inches
Number of wires in each cable ……………………… 5,434 wires
Total length of wires ………………………………… 14,060 miles
Total masonry in towers ……………………………… 85,159 cubic yards
Weight of suspended structure ……………………… 6,620 tons
Total weight of bridge ……………………………… 14,680 tons
Cost of original structure …………………………… $15,100,000