This month in RE history: Brooklyn Bridge opens, Jane Jacobs is born … and more

From the May issue: The Brooklyn Bridge, an expensive feat of engineering that stitched together two boroughs, officially opened 133 years ago this month. In 1867, John Roebling, a German immigrant who designed the bridge, boasted, “The completed work, when constructed in accordance with my designs, will not only be the greatest bridge in existence, but will be the greatest engineering work of the continent, and of the age.” Indeed, at its completion, the structure was the largest suspension bridge in the world. But its construction took 14 years — twice as long as planned — and went 100 percent over budget. [more]