Poughkeepsie is a long schlep from the city, but if you find yourself out there this summer, you could enjoy the beauty of a modified abandoned bridge that puts the High Line to shame. This old railroad bridge was abandoned after a fire in 1974, but reopened in October as the Walkway Over The Hudson—the world's longest pedestrian bridge. The free walkway spans 1.28 miles 212 feet above the river, and just unveiled a new LED system that would let visitors cross the bridge at night.
The $38.8 million project has attracted over half a million visitors so far, double the original yearly estimate. However, the park may not be able to use that new LED system with state park cuts looming. Though local volunteers may staff the walkway once a week, the walkway may have to start charging $5 per visitor. Still, board chairman Fred Schaffer told the Times he's thankful for the popularity. “It’s almost all spreading by word of mouth and on blogs and the Internet,” he said. Hear that, Obama?
