Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

==== Initial work on superstructure ====
The [[Pennsylvania Steel Company]] submitted a bid to construct the bridge's superstructure for $5.3 million in September 1903;{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1903|value=5.3|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Lindenthal rejected the bid, suspecting that the company was engaging in collusion.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 24, 1903 |title=Hornbostel Rejects Steel Company's Bid |pages=22 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-hornbostel-reje/134960825/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202623/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-hornbostel-reje/134960825/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=September 24, 1903 |title=Collusion in the Bidding Charged by Lindenthal |pages=1 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-collusion-in-the-bidd/134962477/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202615/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-collusion-in-the-bidd/134962477/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The city requested further bids for the superstructure the next month,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 22, 1903 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=3 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/134962715/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202609/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/134962715/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but an injunction prevented Lindenthal from awarding a steel contract.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 7, 1903 |title=Lindenthal Tied Up |pages=5 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-lindenthal-tied-up/134964036/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202609/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-lindenthal-tied-up/134964036/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=November 7, 1903 |title=Tiger Holdup Suspected in the Bridge Injunction |pages=20 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-tiger-holdup-su/134964490/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202613/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-tiger-holdup-su/134964490/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Pennsylvania Steel Company received the steel contract that November,<ref name="p886559212">{{Cite magazine |date=September 10, 1909 |title=The Blackwell's Island Bridge |magazine=Railroad Age Gazette |volume=47 |issue=11 |page=441 |id={{ProQuest|886559212}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1903 |title=Big Contract Awarded |pages=1 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-big-contract-awarde/134964564/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202612/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-big-contract-awarde/134964564/ |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|128840770}} |title=Bridge Contract |date=November 11, 1903 |page=2 |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660}}</ref> and the Art Commission approved plans for the bridge's spires the same month.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 11, 1903 |title=Art Commission Turns Down Hornbostel's Plan |pages=3 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-art-commission-turns-down-ho/134964951/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202620/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-art-commission-turns-down-ho/134964951/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Just before Lindenthal left office, the city received bids for four elevator towers and two powerhouses for the bridge at the end of 1903;<ref>{{cite news |date=December 22, 1903 |title=Lindenthal Opens Bridge Bids |page=5 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571369907}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=December 22, 1903 |title=Bids for Blackwell's Island Work. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1903/12/22/archives/bids-for-blackwells-island-work.html |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214238/https://www.nytimes.com/1903/12/22/archives/bids-for-blackwells-island-work.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the powerhouses were to supply the elevators.<ref>{{cite news |date=October 18, 1903 |title=Bridge Towers: Different Styles for East River Viaducts |page=A1 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571327490}}}}</ref> These elevators were to be positioned within the ends of the piers, which would make it impossible to widen the piers at a later date.<ref name="n135219221" /> City corrections commissioner [[Francis J. Lantry]] opposed the elevators because they would allow prisoners on Blackwell's Island to escape.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 28, 1904 |title=Out Goes Hornbostel, A Lindenthal Legacy |pages=1 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-out-goes-hornbostel-a-linde/134968611/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214240/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-out-goes-hornbostel-a-linde/134968611/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 1904, Lindenthal's successor George Best canceled plans for ornamentation on the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 15, 1904 |title=Best Throws Out All the Old Bridge Plans |pages=12 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-best-throws-out-all-t/134969624/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214238/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-best-throws-out-all-t/134969624/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Pennsylvania Steel Company was obligated to complete the superstructure by the beginning of 1907,<ref name="n135219221" /> and it submitted drawings for the construction of the superstructure in mid-1904.<ref name="n134969352" /> Later that year, Best postponed construction of the bridge's elevators and power houses,<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1904 |title=Change in Bridge Contract Will Accelerate Work |pages=4 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-change-in-bridge-cont/134969985/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214243/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-change-in-bridge-cont/134969985/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the city authorized another $400,000 for the bridge's construction.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 12, 1904 |title=To Improve Court House |pages=10 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-improve-court-ho/134970060/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214241/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-to-improve-court-ho/134970060/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1904|value=0.4|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Local merchants protested the postponement of the elevators, saying it would not save money.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 16, 1904 |title=Merchants Get After Mr. Best |pages=12 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-merchants-get-after-m/134970238/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214240/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-merchants-get-after-m/134970238/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Before work on the superstructure began, workers erected seventeen temporary {{Convert|135|ft|m|-tall|adj=mid}} bents between the two piers on Blackwell's Island.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 19, 1905 |title=Rearing Skeleton Work for $10,000,000 Bridge |pages=56 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-rearing-skeleto/135219627/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031316/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-rearing-skeleto/135219627/ |url-status=live }}</ref> When the bents were almost complete, ironworkers organized a [[sympathetic strike]] in June 1905, in solidarity with striking workers at the Pennsylvania Steel Company's [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]] factory.<ref>{{cite news |date=June 24, 1905 |title=Strike on New Bridge: Work on Blackwell's Island Structure Tied Up by Order |page=5 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571579706}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 24, 1905 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge Men on Strike |pages=9 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-blackwells-island-br/135220891/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031313/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-blackwells-island-br/135220891/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The work stoppage lasted a month,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 29, 1905 |title=Housesmith' Strike Ends; Work on Blackwell's Island Bridge Will Now Be Rushed. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/29/archives/housesmith-strike-ends-work-on-blackwells-island-bridge-will-now-be.html |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115022120/https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/29/archives/housesmith-strike-ends-work-on-blackwells-island-bridge-will-now-be.html |url-status=live }}</ref> during which workers were not allowed to complete steel castings for the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 23, 1905 |title=Violate Strike Agreement; Blackwell's Island Bridge Builders Say Union Is to Blame. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/23/archives/violate-strike-agreement-blackwells-island-bridge-builders-say.html |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115022120/https://www.nytimes.com/1905/07/23/archives/violate-strike-agreement-blackwells-island-bridge-builders-say.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By that August, over {{convert|6000|ST|LT t}} of steel castings had been completed, and another {{convert|20000|ST|LT t}} of castings were being fabricated.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1905 |title=Two Big Castings on Pier |pages=14 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-two-big-casting/135220723/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031312/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-two-big-casting/135220723/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There was not enough material to begin constructing the superstructure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 27, 1905 |title=Further Delay on Bridge |pages=48 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-further-delay-o/135221208/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031314/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-further-delay-o/135221208/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There were so few workers on site, a local group estimated that the bridge would not be completed for fifty years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1905 |title=Bridge Work Slow; Committee Fears Blackwell's Island Structure Is 50 Years Off Completion. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1905/08/26/archives/bridge-work-slow-committee-fears-blackwells-island-structure-is-50.html |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031311/https://www.nytimes.com/1905/08/26/archives/bridge-work-slow-committee-fears-blackwells-island-structure-is-50.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Work on the superstructure began later in 1905.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 8, 1905 |title=Report of the Commissioner of Bridges of New York City: Bridges Over the East River |magazine=Railroad Gazette |volume=39 |issue=10 |page=232 |id={{ProQuest|873938980}}}}</ref> By that November, workers had erected part of a steel tower atop the pier on the western side of Blackwell's Island; at the time, the media anticipated that {{convert|3000|ST|LT t}} of steel would be erected every month.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 11, 1905 |title=Rapid Work on Blackwell's Bridge |page=12 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571634648}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1905 |title=Building New York's Third Bridge |pages=12 |work=The Buffalo News |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-building-new-yorks-thi/135221728/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115031311/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-building-new-yorks-thi/135221728/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The first steel span, that above Blackwell's Island, was completed at the beginning of 1906.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 1, 1906 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge Work: Steel Work of One Span Nearly Done—the Committee of Forty's Hopes |page=3 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-blackwells-island-brid/135272131/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |id={{ProQuest|571785964}} |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-blackwells-island-brid/135272131/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=January 1, 1906 |title=Bridge Work Advancing; Eastern Section of Blackwell's Island Structure Nearing Completion. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/01/archives/bridge-work-advancing-eastern-section-of-blackwells-island.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.nytimes.com/1906/01/01/archives/bridge-work-advancing-eastern-section-of-blackwells-island.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the Blackwell's Island span was finished, the falsework was moved to Manhattan and Queens, and the westernmost and easternmost spans were built atop the falsework.<ref name="p126851307" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1906 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=8 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/135271953/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/135271953/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At that point, the city government had acquired much of the land for the approaches.<ref name="n135271386">{{Cite news |date=January 24, 1906 |title=Bridge Work Held Up By a Hundred Strikers |pages=10 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-bridge-work-hel/135271386/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021752/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-bridge-work-hel/135271386/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The bridge's construction was delayed when the Housesmiths' Union went on strike that January.<ref name="n135271386" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 6, 1906 |title=Strike Holds Up Bridge |pages=6 |work=The Sun |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-strike-holds-up-bridge/135272344/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-strike-holds-up-bridge/135272344/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Unions representing other trades refused to join the strike,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 14, 1906 |title=Building Trades Refuse to Join in the Strike; Housesmiths Will Not Have Aid of Other Workmen |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/05/14/archives/building-trades-refuse-to-join-in-the-strike-housesmiths-will-not.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.nytimes.com/1906/05/14/archives/building-trades-refuse-to-join-in-the-strike-housesmiths-will-not.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Pennsylvania Steel Company had replaced the striking workers by that May.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 20, 1906 |title=Engineers On Strike |pages=1 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-engineers-on-st/135272044/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021752/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-engineers-on-st/135272044/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 20, 1906 |title=Brooklyn Carpenters Establish a Wage of $4.50 |pages=9 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-brooklyn-carpenters-e/135272281/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021751/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-brooklyn-carpenters-e/135272281/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The strike delayed construction by four months.<ref name="n135290784">{{Cite news |date=January 7, 1907 |title=Mayor's Message Has "L" Loop Quite Dead |pages=2 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-mayors-message-has-l-loop/135290784/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116170923/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-mayors-message-has-l-loop/135290784/ |url-status=live }}</ref> City officials [[Condemned property|condemned]] a {{convert|250|ft|m|-wide|adj=mid}} strip of land for the Queens approach viaduct in October 1906.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 18, 1906 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=8 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/135273118/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116030949/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridge/135273118/ |url-status=live }}</ref>