The longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world, Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park, rises 212 feet above the river and is easily reached by a glass enclosed, 21-story waterfront elevator in Poughkeepsie. There is often a cool, hang-onto-your-hat breeze and virtually no traffic noise from the Mid-Hudson Bridge, which is within sight. For hardier walkers, on the opposite shore is Franny Reese State Park, with almost three miles of hiking trails, in Highland, N.Y. Those with more modest ambitions can aim for the flagpole mounted midpoint over the river. “The cost to safely remove it was staggering, more than the cost to repurpose it into a pedestrian bridge,” she said. A combination of public and private funding totaling $38 million paid for the paved 24-foot wide walkway that opened in 2009.

Source: New York Times April 25, 2017 11:01 UTC