206 The Story of The Bronx 



signs were displayed, notifying all persons who used the bridge 

 that they did so at their own risk, and that the city would not 

 be liable for damages for any accident that might occur. 



The bridge is of steel and masonry and is 2375 feet long. 

 Its termini are on the heights commanding the river, that 

 on the Borough side being on the Fordham ridge. It crosses 

 the river in two mighty steel arches, each 510 feet long, the 

 crowns being 133 3^ feet above mean high water, so that they 

 are about eighteen feet above the arches of High Bridge. 

 The width is eighty feet, distributed in two foot-pathways 

 and a fine asphalted roadway, upon which no cars were run 

 until May 31, 1906. When wheeling was popular, it was a 

 favorite ride for wheelmen, and thousands passed over the 

 bridge daily. The view from the top is magnificent, taking 

 in, as it does, almost the whole length of the river, both north 

 and south ; the bridge itself being placed at the most beautiful 

 and picturesque part of the stream. The entire cost of the 

 bridge to the city was #2,851,684.55. 



The Willis Avenue Bridge connects East 125th Street at 

 First Avenue, Manhattan, with East 134th Street and Willis 

 Avenue, The Bronx. The contract price was #1,373,000 for 

 the bridge, not including approaches. Work was begun 

 December 4, 1897, and the bridge was opened to the public 

 on August 22, 1901. This is the most easterly of all the 

 bridges crossing the Harlem River. 



Work on the Lenox Avenue Bridge, connecting West 145th 

 Street and Lenox Avenue, Manhattan, and East 149th Street, 

 Bronx, was begun in 1898, and the bridge was completed and 

 thrown open to the public on August 24, 1905. The contract 

 price for the bridge alone was #1,002,000. 



The last of the city bridges to be constructed is the one 

 crossing the Harlem from West 207th Street and Tenth Avenue, 



