5. Carroll Street Bridge is the Nation’s Oldest Retractable Bridge
Though temporarily closed for testing and repairs, Carroll Street Bridge is one of the city’s last wooden bridges and the oldest of the country’s remaining retractable bridges. The 107-foot-long bridge crosses the Gowanus Canal and dates back to 1889. Edwin Litchfield’s plans to expand the canal left the swamp almost entirely dried out, which made it possible for development. The canal was originally crossed by six bridges, though the first Carroll Street Bridge closed in 1887. In its place was a retractable bridge that crossed a narrower portion of the canal and allowed boats to pass through. Robert van Buren, a descendant of Martin van Buren and Chief Engineer of the Bureau of Construction, oversaw the project. The bridge remained more or less the same for the first few decades of its existence.
However, come 1971, the city decided to permanently close the bridge, as it was too costly to continue operating. Just a month later, the bridge was reopened after massive resistance from residents, even though traffic was very light. In the 1980s, the bridge remained stuck in the open position for a few years, though it was restored in 1989. Many of the bridge’s historic features still remain, including a sign that reads, “Any Person Driving over this Bridge Faster than a Walk will be Subject to a Penalty of Five Dollars for Each Offence.”