Streetfilms Shorties: The Manhattan Bridge Turns 100
The Manhattan Bridge officially opened on December 31, 1909. While its 100-year anniversary came and went with little fanfare a few months ago, city officials paid respects today.
By
Ben Fried
4:55 PM EST on March 5, 2010
The Manhattan Bridge officially opened on December 31, 1909. While its 100-year anniversary came and went with little fanfare a few months ago, city officials paid respects today.
At the ceremony, Clarence caught up with Gridlock Sam Schwartz, who heads the NYC Bridge Centennial Commission. In this clip Schwartz describes the nearly catastrophic deterioration of the bridge, which prompted a massive rehab that began in the 1980s and is just now concluding.
You’ll definitely want to pause and take a close look at the 1:01 mark for a reminder of just how easy motorists have it today compared to 100 years ago.
Ben Fried started as a Streetsblog reporter in 2008 and led the site as editor-in-chief from 2010 to 2018. He lives in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, with his wife.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Mamdani Budget Could Tank Queens Subway Expansion He Once Supported
Mayor Mamdani's budget funds a High Line-like Queens park that could prevent future attempts to revive a deactivate rail line.
March 25, 2026
D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump
We previously reported that the Trump administration might soon move to dismantle key cycle tracks in the nation's capital. Unfortunately, we were right.
March 25, 2026
New York’s Forgotten 2,000-Mile Bike Network—And What It Can Teach Us Today
How a bold 1890s experiment led to one of the nation’s most-extensive greenway networks.
March 25, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines: Working for the Yankee Bus Lane Edition
Bx6 bus riders in the Bronx are getting a crosstown speed boost with a long-in-the-works reconstruction of 161st Street. Plus more news.
March 25, 2026
‘Game Changer’: DOT To Add Southbound Bike Lane Through Key Gap in Village
Going south on a bike through Greenwich Village will no longer go south.
March 24, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.