Bridges - Must See Tourist Attractions in New York City

The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th Street Bridge, is a cantilever bridge over the East River in New York City. It connects the neighborhood of Long Island City in the borough of Queens with Manhattan, passing over Roosevelt Island. It carries New York State Route 25 and once carried NY 24 and NY 25A as well.

The Queensboro Bridge is the only one of the four East River spans that carries a route number (excluding the Triborough Bridge): NY 25 terminates at the west (Manhattan) side of the bridge. It is commonly called the "59th Street Bridge" by New York City residents because its Manhattan end is located between 59th and 60th Streets. The alternative name was popularized by the Simon and Garfunkel song "The 59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)", although New Yorkers took to calling it the 59th Street Bridge long before the song.

Details

Construction commenced : July 19, 1901
Open to traffic : March 30, 1909
Vertical clearance : 12 feet (3.6 m) (upper level)
Manhattan to Roosevelt Island span length: 1,182 ft (360 m)
Roosevelt Island span length: 630 ft (192 m)
Roosevelt Island to Queens span length: 984 ft (300 m)
Side span lengths: 469 and 459 ft (143 and 140 m)
Total length between anchorages: 3724 ft (1135 m)
Total length including approaches: 7449 ft (2270 m)