Historic Carroll Street Bridge Reopens After Five-Year Renovation, Now Reserved for Pedestrians and Cyclists

A historic Brooklyn bridge located just outside Williamsburg is set to reopen this week following a major five-year rehabilitation project.

The New York City Department of Transportation announced that the Carroll Street Bridge over the Gowanus Canal will reopen on Monday, June 15, after extensive restoration work that began in 2021. Going forward, the landmarked bridge will be limited to pedestrians, cyclists, and emergency vehicles, with regular vehicular traffic no longer permitted.

Originally opened in 1889, the Carroll Street Bridge is one of only four retractile bridges remaining in the United States. Unlike traditional drawbridges, the unique structure opens by rolling diagonally backward, similar to a drawer, allowing boats to pass through the Gowanus Canal.

As part of the rehabilitation, crews repaired the bridge's structural components, restored its approach and abutments, and installed a new timber deck surface. New signage, street markings, and protective barriers will be added to reinforce the bridge's new role as a pedestrian- and bicycle-focused crossing.

City officials said traffic studies conducted during the bridge's closure found little impact on nearby roadways, with drivers utilizing alternative crossings at Union Street, Third Street, and Ninth Street.

The bridge, designated a New York City landmark in 1987, has long been considered one of Brooklyn's hidden historic treasures. Officials say the restoration preserves an important piece of the borough's industrial and maritime history while adapting the structure for modern community use.

The reopening comes as the Gowanus neighborhood continues to see significant residential growth and expanded waterfront development, with city leaders emphasizing improved pedestrian access and public spaces throughout the area.

For Brooklyn residents interested in local history, the reopening offers a rare opportunity to experience one of the nation's last operating retractile bridges — a structure that has connected the two sides of the Gowanus Canal for more than 135 years.