Hey Buddy ... Wanta Buy a Bridge Ad?

Mid-Hudson Bridge

No, the Brooklyn Bridge isn't for sale ... yet.  But five upstate New York bridges are now for sale to advertisers.  Not the whole bridge -- just the crossing arm that "invites" you to pay a toll before crossing.

Yes, just when you thought there wasn't one more spot on earth to squeeze in an ad, they're now on toll-gate crossing arms operated by the New York State Bridge Authority.  Others are sure to follow.

Advertising Age, a trade publication, reports that advertisers have been signing up in droves to advertise on the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, the Bear Mountain Bridge and other Hudson crossings.

"This is so 'in your face' advertising we couldn't pass it up. It's brilliant," said Nancy Jubie, who co-owns Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses in Ulster Park, N.Y., Advertising Age reported.

While we're not talking the Golden Gate here, these bridges aren't exactly Sleepy Hollow.  (Actually, there is a Sleepy Hollow, NY, but that's another story).  In 2009, 58 million cars rumbled over the five bridges but traffic has been falling lately, so the Bridge Authority went looking for a way to squeeze more money out of the bridges without raising tolls.

So far, the authority thinks it will make at least $450,000 from the ads, which is about what it needs to make up for the decrease in traffic.

There's been little negative backlash from the public and so far no reports of motorists sitting mesmerized, watching the ads float by and holiday up traffic.