Dear Bridge Diary,
Bridges and amusement park rides have a lot in common. Both are designed by Structural Engineers; may be composed of steel; and rise to fantastic heights. Also, similar to a roller coaster, a visit to an exciting bridge can awaken your inner “thrill seeker!” Here are five amusing bridges to add to your trip list. They are listed in order of “thrill level,” in comparison to a merry-go-round to the highest-flying roller coaster. Pick the one that suits your fancy!
1. High Line
Manhattan, NY, USA
The High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated viaduct in Manhattan in New York City, which was transformed from an abandoned railroad to an engaging recreational space. It stretches from W. 34th Street in Hudson Yards to Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District. In the mid-1800’s to the 1920’s, freight trains on the New York Central Railroad traversed Manhattan on street level. Tons of goods were delivered by way of the rail lines. Sadly, this led to many pedestrian casualties, near 10th Avenue in particular, despite the hiring of railroad flaggers known as “West Side Cowboys” to warn people of incoming trains. By 1933, this elevated rail line, known today as the High Line, was constructed as a solution. As time progressed to the 1980’s, the advent of deliveries by truck reduced the need for freight trains. The structure was underutilized and abandoned over time as a result. Soon after, there were calls for its demolition. However, the community, including the West Side Rail Line Development Foundation in the 1980’s to the Friends of the High Line in the late 1990’s, advocated for the structure’s recreational reuse. Today, the High Line is a public space full of art, gardens, and vendors offering tasty food selections for all to explore!
2. DuSable Bridge
Chicago, IL, USA
The DuSable Bridge is a double deck, double leaf, bascule bridge over the Chicago River. It is named after Mr. Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the first non-indigenous settler and founder of Chicago. The leaves of the bridge lift to allow boat traffic to pass underneath. As boats travel to and from Lake Michigan every spring and fall, spectators can witness its’ graceful movement. For an up-close look at the motors and gears that make it function, tourists can visit the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, located in the southwest bridge tower. Each bridge tower has relics that recognize moments in Chicago history, including the arrival of French explorers; first settlers; Battle of Fort Dearborn; and the rebuilding of Chicago after the Great Chicago Fire. After crossing the DuSable Bridge headed north, travelers will have entered Chicago’s famous Magnificent Mile. It is Chicago’s Premier shopping district. The DuSable Bridge, however, is a destination on its own!
3. Grand Canyon Skywalk
Peach Springs, AZ, USA
After crossing this bridge, you’ll find yourself on the same side of the Grand Canyon that you started from. Nevertheless, the glass bottom allows you to experience the Grand Canyon as never seen before. The bridge is located on the Hualapai Reservation at the west rim of the Grand Canyon. It is a cantilevered pedestrian bridge located in Peach Springs, Arizona. A cantilever functions similarly to a diving board – anchored at one end and free on the opposite end. This bridge extends 70 feet over the Grand Canyon, giving you a 4,000-foot view into the canyon’s depths.
4. Gatlinburg SkyBridge
Gatlinburg, TN, USA
Gatlinburg, Tennessee is home to the Gatlinburg SkyBridge. It is a pedestrian bridge supported by cables and spans 680 feet. The bridge is surrounded by views of Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Once you approach the middle of the bridge, wood panels transition to glass. This allows travelers to peer into the valley below, located at least 140 feet beneath their feet. There is one caveat though. To cross this bridge, you’ll have to reach it by SkyLift! The Skylift is a historical feature of the entire park and takes people up 500 vertical feet to the top of Crockett Mountain. A visit to Gatlinburg will give you two thrills in one visit!
5. New River Gorge
Victor, WV, USA
The New River Gorge Bridge is located in Victor, West Virginia and is 3,030 feet long. The steel arch bridge was completed in 1977. At 876 feet high over the New River Gorge, it carries the title of third highest bridge in the United States! During the third Saturday of October, crowds gather at the bridge annually to celebrate “Bridge Day” and to watch BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) jumpers leap into the gorge. If taking the leap isn’t the type of thrill you are into, you can enter the 5K run or sign up to cross the catwalk. A guided tour across a 2-foot-wide catwalk, along the length of the bridge, is available to visitors throughout the year. Aside from the amusement the bridge offers, it serves as an essential thoroughfare. It allows travelers to avoid narrow and mountainous roads, in order to safely cross to the opposite side of the river.
References:
High Line, New York, New York
https://www.thehighline.org/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Line
DuSable Bridge, Chicago, Illinois
http://www.bridgehousemuseum.org
Grand Canyon Bridge, Peach Springs, Arizona
https://grandcanyonwest.com/things-to-do/skywalk/
Gatlinburg SkyBridge, Gatlinburg, Tennessee
https://www.gatlinburgskylift.com/skybridge
New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia, Virginia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_River_Gorge_Bridge
https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/nrgbridge.htm