“Largest trunnion bascule bridge in the world.” That’s what they called the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge when it opened in 1927. Quite a title. Today we are standing before this landmark.
The Roosevelt Avenue Bridge connects Corona and Flushing in Queens. It’s a double-deck movable bridge. It spans the Flushing River.
Surveying began in 1913 for the bridge. It was part of an extension of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company’s line. World War I delayed construction. Financial problems caused further delays.
Finally in 1921, city engineers negotiated with the US War Department. The War Department had jurisdiction over navigable waterways. They denied a fixed bridge. They suggested a bascule bridge. Officials relented.
Groundbreaking occurred on April 21 1923. Mayor John Hylan attended. Construction faced delays. The bridge foundations settled in the deep mud. On May 14 1927, the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge opened to pedestrians. A bus line connected Flushing to Willet’s Point Boulevard station.
Train service began on January 21 1928. City officials took an inaugural run from Times Square to Flushing. The final cost was $2640000. This was more than a tunnel.
The need to keep the river open to navigation didn’t last long. Flushing Meadows Park needed a dam in 1939. The Long Island Railroad replaced its bridge with an embankment and tidal gate. Navigation effectively ended at the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge.
In 1961, the Van Wyck Expressway extension began. The highway ran through the bridge’s navigation channel. Concrete piers support it over the river. The operating mechanisms were removed. The Roosevelt Avenue Bridge hasn’t opened since.
Edward A. Byrne and Robert E. Hawley designed the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge. The Arthur McMullen Company built it. The river channel is 70 feet wide. The clearance between the bridge piers is 162 feet. The lift leaves are 153 feet long. Each weighs about 4 million pounds.
In 2010, the city announced plans to rehabilitate the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge. This included replacing the road deck. It meant repairing rust and deteriorating concrete. The sidewalks were widened. Bike lanes were established.
Today the Roosevelt Avenue Bridge carries four lanes of traffic. It also carries two sidewalks. The IRT Flushing / 7 train line runs on top. It continues to serve New York City after all these years. A vital artery. A piece of history. The Roosevelt Avenue Bridge stands as a testament to engineering and perseverance.