The Willis Avenue Bridge in New York City is named after Benjamin Willis, a former alderman and state assemblyman from the Bronx who was instrumental in securing funding for the bridge’s construction. Willis was born in New York City in 1838 and served in various public offices over the course of his career.
The Willis Avenue Bridge was originally built in 1901 and connected the neighborhoods of Mott Haven in the Bronx and East Harlem in Manhattan. The original bridge was replaced with a new, wider bridge in 2010, but the name was retained in honor of Benjamin Willis and his contributions to the development of the Bronx and New York City as a whole.
Today, the Willis Avenue Bridge is an important transportation artery for the Bronx, providing access to Manhattan and other parts of the city. The bridge is also an important landmark and symbol of the Bronx’s rich history and heritage.
Benjamin A. Willis was a political figure and public servant who was born in New York City in 1838. He was an alderman for the City of New York and a member of the New York State Assembly, where he represented the Bronx.
Willis was an influential figure in the development of the Bronx and was instrumental in securing funding for several important infrastructure projects in the area, including the construction of the Third Avenue elevated train line and the Willis Avenue Bridge.
The Willis Avenue Bridge was built in 1901 and originally connected the neighborhoods of Mott Haven in the Bronx and East Harlem in Manhattan. It was one of the first swing bridges to be built in New York City, and it quickly became an important transportation artery for the Bronx.
Today, the Willis Avenue Bridge has been replaced with a new, wider bridge, but it still bears Benjamin Willis’s name in honor of his contributions to the development of the Bronx and the City of New York.