The Brooklyn Bridge walkway begins about three-quarters of a mile from One Manhattan Square’s entrance at 252 South Street. Residents can reach it by heading west along the river and cutting up through City Hall Park to the ramp at Centre Street and Park Row. That ease of access makes the bridge part of the neighborhood’s daily circuit — just as close as the ferry landing at Corlears Hook, the Seaport, or Essex Market.
Construction on the Brooklyn Bridge began in 1869 and took 14 years to complete. It was the first bridge to use steel wire for its suspension cables, with over 14,000 miles of wire braided into the final structure. The suspension towers stand 278 feet high, anchored by caissons sunk into the riverbed — an experimental method at the time, and a dangerous one. Washington Roebling, the chief engineer, developed “caisson disease” (decompression sickness) while working below water level, and his wife, Emily Warren Roebling, stepped in to oversee daily operations. The bridge opened in 1883 as the longest suspension bridge in the world, and was seen as both a marvel and a piece of public infrastructure. Between 1944 and 1954, its trolley lines were removed and the roadway widened. In recent years, a protected bike lane was added to ease pressure on the pedestrian deck above.
Today, the Brooklyn Bridge functions as active infrastructure for cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. The upper deck walkway stretches approximately 1.1 miles, end to end, set above six lanes of vehicle traffic. It’s lined with chest-height fencing and surfaced with wooden planks worn smooth from constant use. On a typical day, over 30,000 people cross on foot, and more than 100,000 vehicles pass underneath — primarily passenger cars, as trucks have been banned for decades. The bridge remains open 24 hours a day, with lighting from both restored lampposts and modern floodlights installed along the towers and approach ramps. The structure is busy, lit, and constantly in use, but it is rarely overwhelmed.
The Brooklyn Bridge promenade offers a clear, elevated view of the harbor in one direction and the Midtown skyline in the other. From the center span, you can see the Statue of Liberty to the south, the blue trusses of the Manhattan Bridge to the north, and a full sweep of Downtown Manhattan’s towers just behind you. Once across, you’re not dropped into traffic — you’re in the middle of Dumbo. The path ends just minutes from several of the area’s popular destinations, including Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jane’s Carousel, and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
Some of the city’s other skyline views involve lines, entry times, or a cover charge, but not the Brooklyn Bridge. For One Manhattan Square residents, that means the city’s most visible structure is also one of the most accessible. It’s there for morning exercise, evening explorations, or a last-minute change of scenery. And it’s less than a mile away. If that’s your idea of a neighborhood amenity, we’re already on the same page. Contact One Manhattan Square’s sales team today.