Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

==== Progress on superstructure and approaches ====
The city's Bridge Commission received bids for the construction of a steel approach viaduct in Queens in December 1906, and the Buckley Realty Construction Company submitted a low bid of $798,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 14, 1906 |title=Bridge Approach Bids; Viaduct from Queens to Blackwell's Island Structure Lowest, $797,804. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1906/12/14/archives/bridge-approach-bids-viaduct-from-queens-to-blackwells-island.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116021750/https://www.nytimes.com/1906/12/14/archives/bridge-approach-bids-viaduct-from-queens-to-blackwells-island.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|129129899}} |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge |date=December 15, 1906 |page=3 |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wall-street-journal-blackwells-isla/135273227/ |access-date=November 15, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116030949/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wall-street-journal-blackwells-isla/135273227/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1906|value=0.798|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Work on the Queens approach began in February 1907.<ref name="n135293066" /> By then, about {{convert|45000|ST|LT t}} of steel for the bridge, representing nine-tenths of the steel contract, had been manufactured.<ref name="n135290784" /> Workers erected 512 tons of steel each day.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /> To erect the two spans across the East River's west and east channels, they first built steel towers above each pier, then constructed the cantilever arms from each tower toward the center of the river.<ref name="p126851307" /> As such, the bridge was essentially built in three sections in Manhattan, Blackwell's Island, and Queens.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 c100">{{cite web |title=Join Island Bridge Spans; Workmen Rivet Together the $20,000,000 Structure. |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=March 13, 1908 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1908/03/13/archives/join-island-bridge-spans-workmen-rivet-together-the-20000000.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193155/https://www.nytimes.com/1908/03/13/archives/join-island-bridge-spans-workmen-rivet-together-the-20000000.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=March 13, 1908 |title=Bridge Cantilevers Joined |pages=2 |work=The Sun |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-bridge-cantilevers-joined/135299504/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193156/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sun-bridge-cantilevers-joined/135299504/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By early 1907, the cost of acquiring land for the approaches had increased to $6 million, double the original estimate, and the cost of the entire bridge had increased to as much as $18 million.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 28, 1907 |title=Bridge Cost Grows: Approach Values Jump Blackwell's Island Structure Estimate Increased $8,000,000 |page=2 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571989972}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 28, 1907 |title=A Few Millions More Added to Bridge Cost |pages=5 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-a-few-millions/135298771/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193152/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-a-few-millions/135298771/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn-lr|The approaches would be equal to about ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1907|value=6|fmt=c|r=0}} million, and the entire bridge equal to ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1907|value=18|fmt=c|r=0}} million, in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Snare & Triest submitted a low bid of $1.577 million for the construction of the Manhattan approach that May,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 14, 1907 |title=Bids for Bridge Approach; Snare & Triest Company Lowest for Blackwell's Island Work. |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/05/14/archives/bids-for-bridge-approach-snare-triest-company-lowest-for-blackwells.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116030949/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/05/14/archives/bids-for-bridge-approach-snare-triest-company-lowest-for-blackwells.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|129171281}} |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge.: Snare & Triest Get the Contract on a Basis of $1,576,770—Steel Tonnage 6,000. |date=May 20, 1907 |page=8 |work=The Wall Street Journal |issn=0099-9660 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|571807951}} |title=Blackwell's Island Approach Bids: Snare & Triest Company, With Offer of $1,576,760, Quotes Lowest Price |date=May 14, 1907 |page=10 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1907|value=1.577|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} and work on that approach began that July.<ref name="n135293066" />

After the collapse of the similarly designed Quebec Bridge in mid-1907, engineers said they had no concerns about the Blackwell's Island Bridge.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 31, 1907 |title=No New Methods Tried: Engineers Here Refuse to Express Opinions on Bridge's Collapse |page=3 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571854668}} |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-no-new-methods-tried-e/135292176/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116172428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-no-new-methods-tried-e/135292176/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=August 30, 1907 |title=Manhattan Bridge All Right |pages=1 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-manhattan-bridg/135290847/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116172426/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-manhattan-bridg/135290847/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The steel towers above both of the Blackwell's Island piers had been completed and were being painted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 2, 1907 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge Construction Advancing Rapidly |pages=13 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-blackwells-isl/135291043/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116172427/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-blackwells-isl/135291043/ |url-status=live }}</ref> That September, some beams at the eastern end of the bridge were blown into the river during a heavy windstorm.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 22, 1907 |title=Storm Wrecks Part of the New Bridge; Lightning Bolt Hits Section of Blackwell's Island Span and Wind Brings It Down |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/09/22/archives/storm-wrecks-part-of-the-new-bridge-lightning-bolt-hits-section-of.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116030950/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/09/22/archives/storm-wrecks-part-of-the-new-bridge-lightning-bolt-hits-section-of.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=September 22, 1907 |title=Equinox Strikes Hard |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-equinox-strikes-hard/135293951/ 2] |work=New-York Tribune |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-equinox-strikes-hard/135293891/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116170929/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-equinox-strikes-hard/135293891/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The same month, Maryland Steel Company submitted a low bid of $758,000 for a steel-and-masonry approach in Queens.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 7, 1907 |title=Bridge Bids Opened |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/09/07/archives/divorced-her-moorish-way-throwing-shoes-at-his-wife-leads-to-arrest.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116030949/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/09/07/archives/divorced-her-moorish-way-throwing-shoes-at-his-wife-leads-to-arrest.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|571987827}} |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge Bids |date=September 7, 1907 |page=9 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1907|value=0.758|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Several buildings in Long Island City, including rowhouses and an old homestead, were demolished for the Queens approach.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 20, 1907 |title=Hunter Homestead to Go; One of Many Landmarks Removed for New Bridge Approach |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1907/10/20/archives/hunter-homestead-to-go-one-of-many-landmarks-removed-for-new-bridge.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116031343/https://www.nytimes.com/1907/10/20/archives/hunter-homestead-to-go-one-of-many-landmarks-removed-for-new-bridge.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The easternmost steel span was well underway by the end of 1907,<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 13, 1907 |title=Erecting Towers of the Manhattan and Blackwell's Island Bridge |pages=21 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-erecting-towers/135292493/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116172428/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-erecting-towers/135292493/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and work on the steel towers on the Manhattan and Queens waterfronts began that December.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1907 |title=Hurrying New Bridge |pages=4 |work=The Brooklyn Citizen |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-hurrying-new-bridge/135294602/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116194328/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-citizen-hurrying-new-bridge/135294602/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the time, the bridge was more than 70 percent complete.<ref name="n135293066">{{Cite news |date=September 29, 1907 |title=Say Blackwell's Island Bridge Will Be Completed Within a Year |pages=15 |work=The Standard Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-say-blackwells-islan/135293066/ |access-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116170925/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-standard-union-say-blackwells-islan/135293066/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Although Manhattan residents supported widening 59th Street to serve as the bridge's Manhattan approach, the city's controller was opposed.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 9, 1908 |title=To Demand Bridge Approach; Property Owners Fight Metz's Plan to Cheapen Blackwell's Island Plans. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1908/01/09/archives/to-demand-bridge-approach-property-owners-fight-metzs-plan-to.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193203/https://www.nytimes.com/1908/01/09/archives/to-demand-bridge-approach-property-owners-fight-metzs-plan-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The project continued to experience labor disputes, such as in early 1908, when disgruntled workers tried to destroy the Blackwell's Island span with dynamite.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 9, 1908 |title=Dynamite Under New Bridge; Foreman Scents a Plot to Blow Up Blackwell's Island Structure. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1908/03/09/archives/dynamite-under-new-bridge-foreman-scents-a-plot-to-blow-up.html |access-date=November 16, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231116193225/https://www.nytimes.com/1908/03/09/archives/dynamite-under-new-bridge-foreman-scents-a-plot-to-blow-up.html |url-status=live }}</ref>