Editing Brooklyn Bridge (section)

==== Suspension span ====
The main span between the two suspension towers is {{convert|1595.5|ft|m}} long and {{Convert|85|ft|m|abbr=}} wide.<ref name="NRHI Nomination Form p. 2" /><ref name="Barnes p. 28" /><ref name="tribune19220729">{{cite news|title=Cables Slip, But Brooklyn Bridge Is Safe|date=July 29, 1922|work=[[New-York Tribune]]|pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33453854/ 1], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33453892/ 3]|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> The bridge "elongates and contracts between the extremes of temperature from 14 to 16 inches".<ref>{{harvnb|ps=.|Hewitt|1883|p=309}}</ref> Navigational clearance is {{convert|127|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} above [[Mean High Water]] (MHW).<ref name="NOAA" /><ref name="nyt-2025-05-18">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Joseph |last2=Colon |first2=Shayla |last3=Mega |first3=Emiliano Rodríguez |last4=Keh |first4=Andrew |date=2025-05-18 |title=Mexican Navy Ship Crashes Into Brooklyn Bridge, Killing 2 Crew Members |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/17/nyregion/brooklyn-bridge-ship-crash-nyc.html |access-date=2025-05-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> A 1909 ''[[Engineering Magazine]]'' article said that, at the center of the span, the height above MHW could fluctuate by more than {{Convert|9|ft||abbr=}} due to temperature and traffic loads, while more rigid spans had a lower maximum [[Deflection (engineering)|deflection]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t71MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA284|title=The Bridges of New York City|last=Thomson|first=T. Kennard|magazine=[[Engineering Magazine]]|year=1910|page=284|access-date=January 21, 2020|issue=v. 38|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125003003/https://books.google.com/books?id=t71MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA284#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref>

The side spans, between each suspension tower and each side's suspension anchorages, are {{Convert|930|ft|m|abbr=}} long.<ref name="NRHI Nomination Form p. 2">{{harvnb|ps=.|National Park Service|1966|p=2}}</ref><ref name="Barnes p. 28" /> At the time of construction, engineers had not yet discovered the [[aerodynamics]] of bridge construction, and bridge designs were not tested in [[wind tunnel]]s. John Roebling designed the Brooklyn Bridge's truss system to be six to eight times as strong as he thought it needed to be. As such, the open truss structure supporting the deck is, by its nature, subject to fewer aerodynamic problems.<ref name="Talbot p. 4">{{harvnb|ps=.|Talbot|2011|p=4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/06/23/profiles-of-daring/991cf10a-30db-461f-8b26-dd54e24721ce/|title=Profiles of Daring|date=June 23, 1981|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 17, 2019|archive-date=June 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617133449/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/06/23/profiles-of-daring/991cf10a-30db-461f-8b26-dd54e24721ce/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, due to a supplier's fraudulent substitution of inferior-quality wire in the initial construction, the bridge was reappraised at the time as being only four times as strong as necessary.<ref name="Talbot p. 4" /><ref name="nyt19860308">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/08/nyregion/spinning-new-cables-for-bridge-s-2d-century.html|title=Spinning New Cables for Bridge's 2d Century|last=Brooke|first=James|date=March 8, 1986|work=[[The New York Times]]|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325034433/https://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/08/nyregion/spinning-new-cables-for-bridge-s-2d-century.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The main span and side spans are supported by a structure containing [[truss]]es that run parallel to the roadway,<ref name=":1">{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/apracticaltreat00steigoog|title=A Practical Treatise on Suspension Bridges: Their Design, Construction and Erection|last=Steinman|first=D.B.|publisher=[[Wiley (publisher)|Wiley]]|year=1922|page=[https://archive.org/details/apracticaltreat00steigoog/page/n99 84]|access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref> each of which is {{Convert|33|ft|m|abbr=}} deep.<ref name="Langmead 2009 p. 56" /><ref name="concise-description" /> Originally there were six trusses,<ref name=":1" /> but two were removed during a late-1940s renovation.<ref name="nyt19500920" /><ref name=":2" /> The trusses allow the Brooklyn Bridge to hold a total load of {{convert|18,700|ST|t|abbr=off|spell=us}}, a design consideration from when it originally carried heavier elevated trains.<ref name="McCullough pp. 29-31" /><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JJ87AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA105|title=Engineering Record, Building Record and Sanitary Engineer|last1=Mehren|first1=E.J.|last2=Meyer|first2=H.C.|last3=Wingate|first3=C.F.|last4=Goodell|first4=J.M.|publisher=[[McGraw Publishing Company]]|year=1889|page=105|access-date=July 4, 2019|issue=v. 20|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125003043/https://books.google.com/books?id=JJ87AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA105#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> These trusses are held up by suspender ropes, which hang downward from each of the four main cables. Crossbeams run between the trusses at the top, and diagonal and vertical stiffening beams run on the outside and inside of each roadway.<ref name="Langmead 2009 p. 56">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTh8b2cyGBcC&pg=PA56|title=Icons of American Architecture: From the Alamo to the World Trade Center|last=Langmead|first=D.|publisher=[[Greenwood Press]]|year=2009|isbn=978-0-313-34207-3|series=Greenwood Icons|page=56|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125002959/https://books.google.com/books?id=OTh8b2cyGBcC&pg=PA56|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="concise-description">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuu0oQEACAAJ|title=Concise Description of the East River Bridge: With Full Details of Construction ... Two Lectures Delivered ... March 6 and 13, 1880|last=Farrington|first=E.F.|publisher=C.D. Wynkoop, Printer|year=1881|pages=25–26|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125003119/https://books.google.com/books?id=nuu0oQEACAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

An elevated pedestrian-only promenade runs in between the two roadways and {{Convert|18|ft|m|abbr=}} above them.<ref name="nyt19850816">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/16/arts/it-s-time-to-cross-some-bridges-a-guide-to-4-prominent-promenades.html|title=It's Time to Cross Some Bridges: A Guide to 4 Prominent Promenades|last=Dunlap|first=David W|date=August 16, 1985|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705214717/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/08/16/arts/it-s-time-to-cross-some-bridges-a-guide-to-4-prominent-promenades.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It typically runs {{Convert|4|ft|m|abbr=}} below the level of the crossbeams,<ref name="BBPr p. 26-27" /> except at the areas surrounding each tower. Here, the promenade rises to just above the level of the crossbeams, connecting to a balcony that slightly overhangs the two roadways.<ref>{{harvnb|ps=.|Brooklyn Bridge Promenade Recommendation Report|2016|p=10}}</ref> The path is generally {{Convert|10|to|17|ft|abbr=}} wide.<ref name="amny20160809">{{Cite web|first=Vincent|last=Barone|date=August 9, 2016|url=https://www.amny.com/transit/brooklyn-bridge-pedestrian-path-expansion-explored-by-department-of-transportation-1.12151504|title=City Considers Expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Path|website=[[AM New York Metro|am New York]]|language=en|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705214718/https://www.amny.com/transit/brooklyn-bridge-pedestrian-path-expansion-explored-by-department-of-transportation-1.12151504|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBPr p. 26-27">{{harvnb|ps=.|Brooklyn Bridge Promenade|2016|pp=26–27}}</ref> The iron railings were produced by [[Adrian Janes|Janes & Kirtland]], a Bronx iron foundry that also made the [[United States Capitol dome]] and the [[Bow Bridge (Central Park)|Bow Bridge]] in [[Central Park]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=January 11, 1902|title=Obituary; Edward R. Janes|pages=5|work=Hartford Courant|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19800987/edward-janes-obit/|access-date=August 14, 2021|via=newspapers.com|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814165808/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/19800987/edward-janes-obit/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Comfort|first=Randall|title=History of Bronx Borough, City of New York|publisher=North Side News Press|year=1906|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbronxbo00comf}}</ref>