From The Peopling of New York City
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The Williamsburg Bridge
Construction on the bridge began in 1896, and the bridge opened on December 19, 1903. It was the second bridge to span the East River in NYC and at the time it was constructed, it was the longest suspension bridge span on Earth.
How the Bridge Affected Migration Patterns
Besides serving the transit needs of an emergent population, the Williamsburg bridge also played a role in the determining migration trends of ethnic groups. Before the bridge opened, Williamsburg used to be the home to first- and second-generation Irish and German settlers. When it opened, an influx of Jewish settlers from the heaving Lower East Side crossed the "Jews' Bridge" into Williamsburg. The bridge opened Brooklyn to the lower working-class Jewish and Italian immigrants who had been crowded into the tenements of the Lower East Side, shaping the Brooklyn that we know today. These migrants took advantage of jobs along Williamsburg's waterfront, at the refineries, foundries and warehouses. At the same time, the walkway to Delancey Street, allowed them to stay in touch with the loved ones they had left behind in Manhattan. In response, long-term residents moved out to Queens.
Rebuilding the Bridge
In the 1980's, the Bridge was in terrible condition after years of City's neglect and the it's near bankruptcy during the 1970's. It was closed completely for emergency repair work and for many years following was under constant renovation which affected traffic in all directions. In 1999 service halted entirely to allow repairs on the center lanes of the bridge which carry train traffic. 1991, the NYCDOT began a major rehabilitation project of the Williamsburg Bridge. The program was designed to repair the damaging effects of age, weather, increased traffic volumes and negligence; and prepare the bridge for another 100 years of service.
The Bridge Today
The Williamsburg Bridge is one of the major crossings of the East River, carrying approximately 140,000 motorists, 92,000 subway/bus riders, 600 bikers and 500 pedestrians between the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
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