The High Bridge is a stone masonry bridge, with a height of almost 140 feet over the Harlem River. It is the oldest bridge in New York City. Designed by James Renwick Jr., who later went on to design St. Patrick's Cathedral. It was part of the Croton Aqueduct , which carried water from the Croton River to supply the city. It originally had the appearance of a Roman aqueduct, but in the 1920s, a steel arch about 450 feet, was added to replace the several stone arches, that spaned the river. The bridge was started in 1837, and completed in 1848. It has a length of well over 2,000 feet.
The bridge has been closed to all traffic since 1960, after someone threw a rock and injured passengers on a boat passing underneath. Since that time the bridge has fallen into disrepair. There has been much discussion to restoring it as a pedestrian and bicycle crossing
External Links
Article about restoration plans
