When was 59th street bridge built

Gustav Lindenthal also reduced the width of the bridge from feet 37 m to 80 feet 24 m , adding a second deck while keeping the same carrying capacity. A panel of engineers was named to review Lindenthal's design and concluded Buck's deck plan was preferred, but also suggested a revised plan which was accepted. The plans were revised and approved in August of In addition to changing the design of the cantilever structure, Lindenthal commissioned architect Henry Hornbostel to add artistic details to the bridge.

These included domed masonry towers on the anchorages and ornamental finials capping the bridge's towers. Decorative spires originally topped the finials and rose to a height of feet m above the river, but were removed in after an inspection revealed that the steel framework supporting them had severely corroded.

The spires were used as flagpoles until the s; each day it would take workers several hours to climb the stairs in the towers to raise and lower the flags. Guastavino tile vaults were used to decorate the ceiling of the cathedral-like space below the Manhattan approach of the 59th Street Bridge.

First used as an open air farmers market from until , the area designed by Raphael Guastavino was largely forgotten when it was later used by the Highways Department as a garage, sign shop, and storage area. After decades of extensive planning and restoration work, the 98,square foot 9, square meter vaulted interior space east of First Avenue reopened as the "Bridgemarket" in and now includes a restaurant, supermarket, and home furnishing store.

Along with the Quebec Bridge in Canada and the Firth of Forth Bridge in Scotland, the Queensboro Bridge was considered to be one of the great three cantilever bridges in the world and had the largest carrying capacity among these structures. Nickel steel eye-bars were used for the first time in the bridge's construction, an idea of Lindenthal. Most of the time, the lower level is more heavily traveled than the upper level. However, the upper level still earns it fair share of traffic throughout the work day.

Even into the late night hours the bridge is still heavily traveled. If one may want to cross over the bridge with relative ease, than early Sunday morning before am is the best choice. The upper level of the bridge host two lanes of traffic on both the Manhattan Queens approach lanes.

The lower level also provides two land in each direction. The lower level also contains two outer lanes with only the Queens approach being utilized for motor vehicle traffic. The outer Manhattan bound land is now closed to motor vehicle traffic and is utilized for foot and bicycle traffic only.

Proposals for the bridge first began circulating throughout the 19th century. The Department was led by Gustav Lindenthal. In conjunction with Williamsburgh Bridge designers Leffert L. Buck and Henry Hornbostel, the three men set forth the plans in motion to begin the construction of the Queensboro Bridge. And the 59th Street Bridge features prominently in the oeuvre of this pair. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel both began their musical careers in Queens.

They met in high school there and formed a band called Tom and Jerry. The early 60s saw a folk revival sweep New York City. Its epicenter was, of course, Greenwich Village. A new breed of singers and songwriters flocked to the Village, bringing with them a fresh approach to the craft of songwriting.

Simon, who studied English literature, was influenced by this new breed of folk artists. Simon and Garfunkel began to play the folk scene in the early s while both were still in college.

Initially they still billed themselves as Tom and Jerry. The song, written by Simon, is a searing example of the kind of pure folk they were crafting in the Village alongside other folk greats. It is about the street we all know and love that runs like a vein through the neighborhood. The duo would often play to crowded houses on Bleecker Street during the 60s folk music movement.

The anticipated completion is late Removal and replacement of roadway deck on North and South Outer Roadways. Replacement or reinforcement of stringers, floorbeams, tie angles, plates and bearings. Installation of new curbs, barriers and railings.