Mid-Hudson Bridge
The Mid Hudson Bridge (Franklin Delano Roosevelt Bridge) is an often used symbol of the Hudson Valley. This majestic suspension bridge connects Poughkeepsie and Highland New York. At the center of the bridge proudly hangs a large American flag. The bridge is illuminated at night by colored lights, which can be seen from drivers on route 9. The patterns of the lights are changed throughout the year with different themes.
Parallel to the bridge is a historic railroad bridge. The railroad bridge was recently converted to a Walkway Over the Hudson. Several years ago, during the restoration process I got the chance to go on the railroad bridge to take photographs. The opening of the new walkway was part of the celebrations of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage up the Hudson River.
Another part of the celebrations was Bridge Music, a music project by a friend and mentor Joseph Bertolozzi. Bridge Music is a compilation of songs that were composed entirely of sounds produced by the bridge. With assistance from the bridge authority, he collected recordings from various parts of the bridge from the suspension cables to inside of the towers. After amassing a large library of sounds, he composed them into a number of distinct songs.
Last spring I stopped by Waryes Park, which is right at the base of the bridge. It was the first warm weekend and the ice had started to melt and there was a strong ice flow. On that day I captured these photographs of a tug boat pushing a barge up the river towards Albany.
