New York's mayor is considering selling Brooklyn Bridge to bring in extra revenue.
The plans also include selling three other bridges on the East River and the introduction of tolls on all four.
City officials estimate tolls on the bridge could raise $800 million a year, with revenues divided between the city and the toll operator.
Mr Mike Bloomberg's office hopes to plug a budget deficit of nearly $5 billion, Britain's Daily Telegraphreported today.
It is believed the likely buyer will be the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which already controls all the other toll-paid crossings to and from Manhattan.
A spokesman for the mayor's office said: "I want to emphasise that this is just in the very early planning stages. But if we're going to find these revenues, we have to think outside the box."
Both the city council and the state authorities will need to approve any sale or lease.
Around 150,000 commuters from Queens and Brooklyn cross the Brooklyn Bridge every day by car.
AP