The Queensborough Bridge, also called the "59th Street Bridge" because it enters Manhattan at 59th Street, is a cantilever bridge that connects Queens with Manhattan in New York City. It was completed on March 30, 1909.
It has two levels. The upper level has 4 lanes of vehicle traffic and provides a excellent view of the bridge's cantilever truss structure and the New York skyline. It was formerly used for the BMT Subway's trains. The lower level has 6 lanes, 4 for vehicle traffic and 2 outer lanes, which are used for either vehicle traffic or pedestrians and bicycles.
The Queensboro Bridge consists of several spans, one crossing over the East River, another over Roosevelt Island, and another over the river on the other side of the island.
- western East River span 1,182 feet
- Roosevelt Island span 630 feet
- eastern East River span 984 feet
- side spans 469 feet and 459 feet each
- bridge anchorage-anchorage length 3,825 feet
- total length 7,449 feet
- total length (with approaches) 11,110 feet
The bridge is a significant setting for the 2002 movie Spider-Man. In that movie, the Green Goblin throws Mary Jane Watson from the bridge, and Spider-Man must decide between saving her or passengers on the Roosevelt Island tram.
