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An estimated 27 men died during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge; even more suffered health issues. Workers called "sandhogs," excavated the river beds to make room for caissons. They worked in extreme heat and pressure, often subject to the "bends," caused by resurfacing to normal atmospheric pressure too quickly—symptoms included extreme muscle pain, cramping, vomiting, and slurred speech, among others. Digging was suspended after three men died. Engineers tried to minimize the human cost, but it was already present. Other laborers fell to their deaths or had pieces of the bridge fall on them. It is still not known the exact number of deaths resulting from the bridge's construction, as laborers who died as a result of their injuries later would not be counted. Even after its completion, on the day of the opening, a woman was killed when there was a sudden stampede. To this day, crowding is a major concern of the bridge. Though tourism—and therefore, pedestrian use—have increased, most of the width of the bridge is devoted to private transportation for cars. At its opening, the IRT (the precursor to the subway) occupied part of the bridge, but its function as part of public transit has nearly disappeared. Today, bike lanes have been completely eliminated, and the promenade is as narrow as ten feet in places. On busy days, as many as 25,000 pedestrians cross the bridge. Though the construction of the bridge was costly, today it is still an engineering marvel. At the time it was built, it was the longest bridge in the world and the first to use many of its design features. Its longevity demonstrates its strength, and it will continue to attract tourists for this reason.
In order to think about positive change for the bridge, it is important to consider current design flaws. First, the bridge is currently unsafe, especially for pedestrians. The promenade is as narrow as 10 feet at places, and as a tourist destination, the bridge can become extremely crowded. This creates the possibility for a situation similar to the stampede at the bridge’s opening. There is a dissonance between who is primarily using the space and who—or rather, what—is being prioritized. The bridge has historical value that should be preserved, symbolizing the strength and endurance of New York City. However, it also has a historical record of causing harm to its builders and users. A new design should prioritize pedestrian safety and public transit (as opposed to private) to foster a welcoming, accessible community space. Additionally, the anchorages to accommodate heavy car traffic take up valuable space and separate the communities below them. Completely removing cars from the bridge would not only make room for community space on the bridge, but in the surrounding neighborhoods at the bases of the bridge. The future of the bridge should be to return it to New Yorkers, making space for more pedestrians, bikers, and public transit like buses, while also keeping the main structure because of the historical value of the bridge itself. The ultimate goal should be increased safety and community.