Rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is the oldest of New York City's East River bridges, having been opened to traffic in May 1883. The bridge was designated a Historic Landmark in 1967. It is a combination suspension and cable stayed bridge with a main span of 486.3 m and two equal side spans of 283.5 m. In 1979, the New York State Department of Transportation ordered an in-depth inspection of the entire bridge in order to set rehabilitation priorities for the bridge for the next 100 years. This paper presents work completed in 1991 under Contract No. 4, consisting mainly of the replacement of wire rope and solid rod suspenders, cable posts, stays, main cable wire wrapping, and the adjustment of suspenders.