Queensboro Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge |
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(2010)
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| Coordinates | 40°45′25″N 73°57′18″W / 40.757°N 73.955°W |
| Carries | 9 lanes (4 upper, 5 lower) of  NY 25, and 1 lane for pedestrians/bicycles |
| Crosses | East River |
| Locale | New York City (Manhattan–Queens) |
| Other name(s) | Queensboro Bridge, 59th Street Bridge |
| Maintained by | New York City Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Double-decked Cantilever bridge |
| Total length | 3,724 ft 6 in (1,135.2 m) |
| Width | 100 ft (30 m) |
| Longest span | 1,182 ft (360 m) (west span) 984 ft (300 m) (east span) 630 ft (192 m) (center span) |
| Clearance above | 12 ft (3.7 m) (upper level) |
| Clearance below | 130 ft (40 m) |
| History | |
| Architect | Henry Hornbostel |
| Designer | Gustav Lindenthal |
| Engineering design by | Leffert L. Buck |
| Opened | March 30, 1909 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 170,277 (2016) |
| Toll | Free |
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Queensboro Bridge
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| Location | 59th Street Manhattan, New York City |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Gustav Lindenthal (designer) Henry Hornbostel (architect) |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts; through cantilever truss |
| NRHP reference No. | 78001879 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 1978 |
The Queensboro Bridge is a famous bridge in New York City. It crosses the East River and connects Manhattan with Long Island City in Queens. It's also known as the 59th Street Bridge because its Manhattan end is near 59th Street. The bridge was finished in 1909. It even goes over Roosevelt Island in the middle of the river! The Queensboro Bridge is 7,449 feet (2,270 m) long. In 2011, it was renamed the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge after Ed Koch, a former mayor of New York City.
About the Bridge
The Queensboro Bridge is a special type of bridge called a cantilever bridge. This means it's built with strong arms that stick out from towers, supporting the roadway. It's also a "double-decked" bridge, meaning it has two levels for traffic.
The bridge carries nine lanes of traffic for cars. It also has a special lane for people who want to walk or ride their bikes across. The road that uses the bridge is numbered New York State Route 25.
History and Design
The Queensboro Bridge was designed by Gustav Lindenthal and Henry Hornbostel. It took many years to build, finally opening in 1909.
For a while, from 1909 to 1917, the part of the bridge between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island was the longest cantilever span in North America. This means it was the longest section of this type of bridge without support from below.
In the past, the bridge used to carry elevated trains. Now, it mainly carries cars. Since the year 2000, people have been able to walk or bike across the bridge, which is a great way to see the city.
Nearby Attractions
Just north of the bridge, there's a tramway that travels in the air. This tramway goes from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, offering great views.
Images for kids
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Bridge seen from Manhattan, c. 1908
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Constructing the upper level in 1907
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During the Five Boro Bike Tour in 2008
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The bridge as seen from the 56th floor of the Citigroup Center
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Queensboro Bridge at night
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The Queensboro Bridge viewed from Roosevelt Island
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The Bridge, Blackwell's Island by George Bellows, 1909, Toledo Museum of Art
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Looking east from Manhattan toward Queens
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Bridgemarket on Manhattan side
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See also
In Spanish: Puente de Queensboro para niños
