Fifty-five feet. That’s how high the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge stands. High enough for boats to pass beneath without delay. Imagine the previous drawbridge. The constant wait. The frustration of stalled traffic.
The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge isn’t just a bridge. It’s a lifeline. A connector between Broad Channel and the Rockaway Peninsula. It spans Jamaica Bay a critical artery in Queens New York City. This wasn’t always the case. The dream of a bridge here began in 1917. People envisioned a quicker route to the Rockaways. They wanted to escape Manhattan’s hustle for the beaches.
The first bridge opened in 1925. It cost $7 million a massive sum back then. It quickly proved insufficient. By 1929 it was hopelessly overcrowded. A new low-level bascule bridge replaced it in 1939. A far grander structure it cost $33 million. This newer bridge significantly improved the infrastructure around Jamaica Bay. This was part of a larger plan. The city aimed to transform the area. Instead of an industrial hub Jamaica Bay would become a recreational paradise.
But even this second bridge fell short of expectations. By 1970 it was time for an upgrade. The current high-level fixed bridge opened then. Its 55-foot clearance ended the wait for boats. The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge a name reflecting its importance and function was born. This six-lane behemoth cost $26 million.
Today tolls are cashless. Cameras capture license plates. This was not always the case. Until 2010 residents crossed for free. It was part of a more expansive vision of community connection. Since 2017 all tolls are fully automated. Gone are the days of stopping at toll booths.
The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge. More than just steel and concrete it represents progress. It represents vision and the ever-evolving needs of a growing city. A bridge that connects more than just land. It connects past present and future.