Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

=== Opening and 1910s ===
In February 1909, the Celebration Committee set June 12 as the bridge's official opening date,<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 6, 1909 |title=Cantilever Opens in June |pages=17 |work=The Chat |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chat-cantilever-opens-in-june/136007887/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407172644/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chat-cantilever-opens-in-june/136007887/ |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|555608223}} |title=How They Will Open Queensboro Bridge: Free Auto Rides for Every One June 12 |date=February 11, 1909 |page=10 |work=The Hartford Courant |issn=1047-4153}}</ref> and two grand parades were planned for the bridge's official opening.<ref>{{cite web |title=Great Jubilee Over Queensboro Bridge; Celebration Committee Plans for a Big Civic and Military Pageant |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=June 6, 1909 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/06/06/archives/great-jubilee-over-queensboro-bridge-celebration-committee-plans.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |postscript=none}}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|572242581}} |title=Plan Two Big Parades: Striking Features Will Be in Line on Land and Water Celebrations Over the Formal Opening of the Queensboro Bridge Across the East River, at Blackwell |date=June 6, 1909 |page=A4 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646}}</ref> The lights on the bridge were first turned on March 28,<ref>{{cite web |date=March 29, 1909 |title=New Bridge Aglow; Queensboro Structure Ready for Traffic – Cost $12,000,000. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/03/29/archives/new-bridge-aglow-queensboro-structure-ready-for-traffic-cost.html |access-date=November 29, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and the bridge opened to the public two days later on March 30, 1909.<ref name="p144906008" /><ref name="open">{{cite news |author= |date=March 31, 1909 |title=Queensboro Bridge Opens to Traffic |page=2 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/03/31/101873802.pdf |access-date=February 20, 2010 |archive-date=June 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629213600/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1909/03/31/101873802.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p572216360" /> The upper deck's tracks were not in service because engineers had deemed them unsafe for use.<ref name="p572216360" /> The Queensboro Bridge formally opened as scheduled on June 12, 1909;<ref name="The New York Times 1909 s113">{{cite web |title=300,000 See Queens Linked to Old City; New Bridge Ablaze with Red Fire and Electricity in the Evening |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=June 13, 1909 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/06/13/archives/300000-see-queens-linked-to-old-city-new-bridge-ablaze-with-red.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |postscript=none |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612165824/https://www.nytimes.com/1909/06/13/archives/300000-see-queens-linked-to-old-city-new-bridge-ablaze-with-red.html |url-status=live }}; {{cite news |id={{ProQuest|572230589}} |title=All Queens Rejoices: Manhattan Greets Her Across New Bridge Governor Hughes Reviews 30,000 Marchers in Historic Pageant Under Blazing Skies |date=June 13, 1909 |page=3 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=June 12, 1909 |title=The Queensboro Bridge Dedicated to a New Era for Long Island |pages=1 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-the-queensboro/136012035/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 }}</ref> at the time, it was the fourth-longest bridge in the world.<ref name="open" /> The grand opening included a fireworks display, a parade lasting several hours,<ref name="The New York Times 1909 s113" /> a "Queen of the Queensboro Bridge" beauty pageant in a local newspaper,<ref name="p278774250" /> and a week of carnivals.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 20, 1909 |title=Bridge Celebration Ends; Miss Elizabeth Augente of Long Island City Chosen Queen of the Carnival. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1909/06/20/archives/bridge-celebration-ends-miss-elizabeth-augente-of-long-island-city.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

During late 1909, the Williams Engineering and Contracting Company sued the city for damages relating to the unbuilt elevators on Blackwell's Island,<ref>{{cite news |date=December 8, 1909 |title=That Bridge Again: Suit for $400,000 Because Plans Were Changed |page=12 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572260933}}}}</ref> and there was another lawsuit over its safety.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 22, 1909 |title=Bridge Argument: Is Structure Safe? Main Question in Suit Over Queensboro Structure |page=5 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572287046}}}}</ref> Tolls on the bridge were abolished in 1911.<ref name=nyt19110719a/> A bridge approach between Second and Third avenues in Manhattan was proposed in 1913,<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 9, 1913 |title=New Terminal Plan; Manhattan Approach to Queensboro Bridge to Occupy Four Blocks. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/11/09/archives/new-terminal-plan-manhattan-approach-to-queensboro-bridge-to-occupy.html |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106225244/https://www.nytimes.com/1913/11/09/archives/new-terminal-plan-manhattan-approach-to-queensboro-bridge-to-occupy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and plans for elevated rapid transit on the upper level were approved at the same time.<ref name="n138185084">{{Cite news |date=November 10, 1913 |title=Plan Six Tracks on Queensboro Bridge |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-plan-six-tracks/138185084/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=4 |postscript=none |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106215720/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-plan-six-tracks/138185084/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=November 9, 1913 |title=To Have Six Tracks |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-to-have-six-tracks/138185119/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=New-York Tribune |pages=34 |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106215722/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-to-have-six-tracks/138185119/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By that year, the bridge carried 29 million people a year (compared to 3.6 million during 1909).<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 1, 1914 |title=Traffic Rules for Bridge Plaza; Queens Chamber of Commerce Wants City Policemen Stationed There. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/02/01/archives/traffic-rules-for-bridge-plaza-queens-chamber-of-commerce-wants.html |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |postscript=none |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106234431/https://www.nytimes.com/1914/02/01/archives/traffic-rules-for-bridge-plaza-queens-chamber-of-commerce-wants.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=January 29, 1914 |title=Urge Mitchel to Recommend Traffic Rules |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-urge-mitchel-to-recommend-tr/138192665/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=Times Union |pages=8 |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106234431/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-urge-mitchel-to-recommend-tr/138192665/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Horse-drawn vehicles made up almost 30 percent of the bridge's total vehicular traffic in the early 1910s, which dropped to less than 2 percent within a decade.<ref name="p1113078518">{{cite news |date=March 30, 1924 |title=Queensboro Bridge Has Been in Use 15 Years To-Day: Aerial Highway of Steel Has Brought Wealth and Population to Queens; Assessed at $1,000,000,000 |work=The New York Herald, New York Tribune |page=B1 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1113078518}}}}</ref>

In mid-1914, engineers devised plans to add two subway tracks to the lower level and replace the existing roadway with a pair of {{convert|26|ft|m|-wide|adj=mid}} roadways on the upper and lower levels.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 27, 1914 |title=New Bridge Plan; Queensboro Bridge to Have Two Twenty-Six-Foot Roadways. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/09/27/archives/new-bridge-plan-queensboro-bridge-to-have-two-twentysixfoot.html |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |postscript=none |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106234431/https://www.nytimes.com/1914/09/27/archives/new-bridge-plan-queensboro-bridge-to-have-two-twentysixfoot.html |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=July 25, 1914 |title=Queens Bridge Transit to be Improved Now |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-queens-bridge-transit-to-be/125570624/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=Times Union |pages=1 |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604122817/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-queens-bridge-transit-to-be/125570624/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The upper roadway would have connected to Van Alst Avenue (21st Street) in Queens;<ref>{{cite web |title=Queensboro Bridge Traffic Changes |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=September 6, 1914 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1914/09/06/archives/queensboro-bridge-traffic-changes.html |access-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013833/https://www.nytimes.com/1914/09/06/archives/queensboro-bridge-traffic-changes.html |url-status=live }}</ref> one company proposed constructing the deck in 18 months.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 7, 1915 |title=Queensboro Bridge Work; Contracting Firm Offers to Do Rebuilding in Four Months. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1915/02/07/archives/queensboro-bridge-work-contracting-firm-offers-to-do-rebuilding-in.html |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013834/https://www.nytimes.com/1915/02/07/archives/queensboro-bridge-work-contracting-firm-offers-to-do-rebuilding-in.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The subway plans were ultimately dropped in favor of the [[60th Street Tunnel]].<ref name="The Evening World 1914" /> In early 1916, the New York City government allocated $144,000 for repairs to the roadway,<ref>{{cite news |date=January 31, 1916 |title=Queens Bridge To Be Repaved |work=New-York Tribune |page=2 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|575525973}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=January 31, 1916 |title=Mayor Urges Haste on Bridge Roadway; Approves Kracke's Repavement Plan and Asks $144,000 for Queensboro Span |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/31/archives/mayor-urges-haste-on-bridge-roadway-approves-krackes-repavement.html |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013836/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/31/archives/mayor-urges-haste-on-bridge-roadway-approves-krackes-repavement.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1916|value=144000|fmt=c|r=-3}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} as it had never been repaved and was full of holes and ruts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1916 |title=Queensboro Bridge a Menace to Autos; Roadway to Long Island a Continuous Series of Ruts and Hummocks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/19/archives/queensboro-bridge-a-menace-to-autos-roadway-to-long-island-a.html |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107013836/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/01/19/archives/queensboro-bridge-a-menace-to-autos-roadway-to-long-island-a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A new foundation was installed to slow down the decay of the wooden pavement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Scharps |first=C. E. T. |date=October 8, 1916 |title=Fine Pavement for Queensboro Bridge: City Labor Laying Surface That Will Stand Traffic |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-fine-pavement-for-queen/138201033/ |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=New-York Tribune |page=B8 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|575628936}} |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107014204/https://www.newspapers.com/article/new-york-tribune-fine-pavement-for-queen/138201033/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Simultaneously, the city's Public Service Commission had approved the construction of connections between the bridge's upper-level tracks and the elevated lines at either end.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 7, 1916 |title=To Extend 2d Av. Tracks Over Bridge: "L" Trains May Run to Queensborough in November |work=New-York Tribune |page=A5 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|575579461}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=May 14, 1916 |title=New Transit Lines; Nov. 1 Set for Completion of Elevated Lines to Astoria and Corona. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/14/archives/new-transit-lines-nov-1-set-for-completion-of-elevated-lines-to.html |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107022044/https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/14/archives/new-transit-lines-nov-1-set-for-completion-of-elevated-lines-to.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Elevated service across the bridge commenced in July 1917,<ref name="n138184072">{{Cite news |date=July 22, 1917 |title=New Rapid Transit Line for Queens |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-new-rapid-trans/138184072/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=51 |postscript=none |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106215724/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-new-rapid-trans/138184072/ |url-status=live }}; {{Cite news |date=July 23, 1917 |title=Second Ave. 'L' Trains Running to Queensboro |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-second-ave-l-trains-runni/138184132/ |access-date=January 6, 2024 |work=Times Union |pages=6 |archive-date=January 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106215723/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-second-ave-l-trains-runni/138184132/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the entire repaving project was nearly done later that year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 4, 1917 |title=Queens Bridge Wood-Block Road Is Rapidly Nearing Completion |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-queens-bridge-w/138200971/ |access-date=January 7, 2024 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |pages=8 |archive-date=January 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107014203/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-queens-bridge-w/138200971/ |url-status=live }}</ref>