Carroll Street Bridge rolled off the Gowanus Canal as dredging is done in the EPA Superfund project. ©Mark D Phillips

EPA Superfund dredging of the Gowanus Canal on December 30, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, takes place behind the opened Carroll Street Bridge. In 1889, the Carroll Street Retractable Bridge opened and today is one of only four retractable bridge’s remaining in the world. Built at a cost of $36,742.58, the beloved bridge supports a 17 foot wide roadway and two 4.5 foot sidewalks that are pulled onto the shore on tracks via a cable and pulley system. Landmarked in 1987, the bridge was built to allow horse and wagons to cross the increasingly busy waterway, and still features a sign stating “Any Person Driving over this Bridge Faster than a Walk will be Subject to a Penalty of Five Dollars For Each Offence.” ©Mark D Phillips