The Brooklyn Bridge was erected in 1883. It was a product of the work of John Augustus Roebling who was a great pioneer in the design of steel suspension bridges. It’s towers are made from granite and it’s cables are made from strong steel wires. The bridge’s construction took 14 years, involved 600 workers and cost $15 million to build.
How Deep Were the Brooklyn Bridge Caissons
The Brooklyn Bridge caissons were 44 feet deep. Each week, the caissons sank closer to the bedrock. When they reached 44 feet on the Brooklyn side and 78 feet on the Manhattan side, they began laying granite. The workers kept building until they worked their way back up to the surface.
Working in the Brooklyn Bridge Caissons
Back then, workers were getting paid about $2 a day for their grueling work. The hot air inside the caissons were dense and made many workers ill. It gave them pounding headaches, itchy skin, bloody noses and slowed their heartbeats. Although terribly uncomfortable, the environment within the caissons were relatively safe. This dense air made it possible to breathe in the caisson and kept the water from leaking in.