The Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad bridge has been closed since a devastating fire May 8, 1974. Such a large part of the city skyline, it has seemed almost a ghostly presence, a foresaken steel relic doomed to one day simply fall into the river below. Walkway over the Hudson has been trying to convert the bridge into a public walkway since 1992. Construction finally began on this dream project last year and the bridge was officially opened to the public as part of the 400th Centennial Celebration of the 'discovery' of the Hudson River.
The fall foliage made my first walk across the bridge truly spectacular. Though sometimes afraid of heights and despite a healthy wind (see the flag), the bridge didn't sway at all. As you leave the Poughkeepsie side, you walk above houses and roads and rail lines. It's truly breathtaking to stand mid-river and take in the view—Catskill mountains to the north, the Mid Hudson Bridge to the south. I was particularly impressed with the steel truss structure. The 80-spot parking lot is no nearly enough to accommodate the curious. So, best to visit during the week until the crowds thin out.
Originally constructed in 1889 with funds from prominent tycoons Henry Clay Frick and Andrew Carnegie, the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge was deemed to be an extraordinary engineering achievement. The bridge stands 212 feet above the river, stretches 6767 feet and is a classic cantilever and truss bridge.
