Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

=== 1950s and 1960s ===
Officials installed fences in 1951 to prevent [[jaywalking]] at the Manhattan approach,<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1951 |title=A Barrier to Prevent Jaywalking; Jaywalkers at Queensboro Bridge Curbed by New Fences on 2d Ave. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/09/08/archives/a-barrier-to-prevent-jaywalking-jaywalkers-at-queensboro-bridge.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=September 8, 1951 |title=Bridge Fences Bar Jaywalks |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-bridge-fences-bar-jaywalks/138985853/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=246}}</ref> and the city's parking authority contemplated erecting a parking garage west of the bridge's Manhattan terminus the same year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 15, 1951 |title=$3,500,000 Garage at Queensboro Bridge Awaits Financing From City Parking Meters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/03/15/archives/3500000-garage-at-queensboro-bridge-awaits-financing-from-city.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> Public Works commissioner Frederick H. Zurmuhlen announced that October that his office was preparing plans for the northern upper roadway,<ref>{{cite news |date=October 2, 1951 |title=New Viaducts, To Queensboro Bridge Planned: More Queens Approaches to Upper Level To Be Step Toward 4 Lanes There |work=New York Herald Tribune |page=21 |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1318539646}} |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=October 2, 1951 |title=Queensboro Span to Be Renovated; $6,964,000 Program Includes Another Two-Lane Roadway, Ending One-Way System |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1951/10/02/archives/queensboro-span-to-be-renovated-6964000-program-includes-another.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> and he petitioned the city government for $6.5 million for the new roadway.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 19, 1952 |title=Urges Prompt Face-Lifting For City Hall |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-urges-prompt-face-lifting-for/138991105/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=281}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1951|value=6.5|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} By the next year, plans for the roadway and its Manhattan approach were complete,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 12, 1952 |title=Harlem Bridge Job Will Take 4 Years; Third Ave. Span to Be Closed for Repairs After Willis Link Is Reopened This Year |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/05/12/archives/harlem-bridge-job-will-take-4-years-third-ave-span-to-be-closed-for.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> and workers were demolishing buildings to make way for the roadway's Manhattan approach.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 14, 1952 |title=City's Plan Ready to Rebuild Bridge; Four Tenements at Manhattan End of Queensboro Span to Come Down This Fall |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/09/14/archives/citys-plan-ready-to-rebuild-bridge-four-tenements-at-manhattan-end.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> Zurmuhlen requested $8.2 million from the city in 1953 for the construction of the roadway;{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1953|value=8.2|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} in exchange, he dropped plans for a bus terminal at the Manhattan end of the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 14, 1953 |title=85 Million Sought for City Projects; $8,221,531 Would Be Used to Start Work on New Roadway for the Queensboro Bridge |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/08/14/archives/85-million-sought-for-city-projects-8221531-would-be-used-to-start.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> The bridge's approaches were repaved in 1954.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1322551658}} |title=Queensboro Repaying to Start |date=August 30, 1954 |page=8 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=August 30, 1954 |title=Repaving to Start on Queensboro Span |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/08/30/archives/repaving-to-start-on-queensboro-span.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Board of Estimate allocated $7.7 million in June 1955 for the construction of the northern upper roadway and approach ramps.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1955 |title=$7,697,650 Voted Queensboro Span; Contracts to Be Let at Once for Upper-Deck Roadway and Two Approaches |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/06/11/archives/7697650-voted-queensboro-span-contracts-to-be-let-at-once-for.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1955|value=7.7|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} With the opening of the Welfare Island Bridge that year,<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 19, 1955 |title=Welfare Island Gets Own Bridge; $6,500,000 Link With Long Island City Is Opened by Jack and Lundy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1955/05/19/archives/welfare-island-gets-own-bridge-6500000-link-with-long-island-city.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> the city shuttered the trolley lanes, mid-bridge station, and stairs to Roosevelt Island,<ref name="concrete126">{{Harvnb|ps=.|Eldredge|Horenstein|2014|p=126}}</ref> and it also planned to close down the bridge's elevators.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 8, 1952 |title=$6,502,900 Approved for East River Span |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1952/02/08/archives/6502900-approved-for-east-river-span.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=September 28, 1954 |title=Welfare Island Span Put Safely in Place |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-welfare-island-span-put-safel/138991706/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=63}}</ref> The last trolley traversed the bridge in April 1957,<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=McCandlish |date=April 7, 1957 |title=City's Last Trolley at End of Line; Buses Will Replace 49-Year Route on Queensboro Span |page=1 |newspaper=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1957/04/07/90791332.pdf |access-date=August 17, 2008 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 7, 1957 |title=Trolley Ends New York Run |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette-trolley-ends-new-york-run/138993889/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=Star-Gazette |pages=4}}</ref> and the elevators and stairs on the Queens side of the bridge were closed the same month,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1957 |title=Bridge Elevators Shut |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/04/14/archives/bridge-elevators-shut.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 9, 1957 |title=Bridge Lifts Go Out With Trolley |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-bridge-lifts-go-out-with-trol/138993122/ |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |pages=19}}</ref> although the elevator in Roosevelt Island would not be demolished for 13 years.<ref name="U.S. Government Printing Office 1998 p. 95" /> The Queens approach ramps were also rebuilt, accounting for over two-thirds of the project's cost.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feron |first=James |date=January 22, 1958 |title=Queens Span Job Near Completion; 2 Lanes and New Ramps on Queensboro Bridge Due to Be Finished in May |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1958/01/22/91382593.pdf |access-date=December 18, 2017}}</ref> The Thomson Avenue ramp was completed first, followed by the ramp to 21st Street in late 1957.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1327627229}} |title=Detours Set On Queens Bridges |date=October 18, 1957 |page=13 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=October 20, 1957 |title=Traffic Rerouting Set; Three Changes in Queens Take Effect Tomorrow |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/10/20/archives/traffic-rerouting-set-three-changes-in-queens-take-effect-tomorrow.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> The northern upper roadway opened in September 1958,<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1327019243}} |title=New Queensboro Bridge Roadways Opening Today |date=September 11, 1958 |page=1 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |last=Stengren |first=Bernard |date=September 11, 1958 |title=New Roads Ready on 2 Bridges Here; Queensboro and Brooklyn Spans' Facilities to Open Today and Monday |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/09/11/archives/new-roads-ready-on-2-bridges-here-queensboro-and-brooklyn-spans.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> and the bridge was formally rededicated in April 1959 for its 50th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news |id={{ProQuest|1323960299}} |title=Queensboro Bridge Marks 50th Year |date=April 7, 1959 |page=13 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |postscript=none}}; {{Cite news |date=April 7, 1959 |title=Queensboro Bridge is Dedicated Anew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/04/07/archives/queensboro-bridge-is-dedicated-anew.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1958, [[Consolidated Edison]] proposed converting the lower-level trolley tracks into vehicular lanes in exchange for permission to install power cables under the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1958 |title=Bridge Power Deal Would Add 2 Lanes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/06/25/archives/bridge-power-deal-would-add-2-lanes.html |access-date=January 18, 2024 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |language=en-US}}</ref> Consolidated Edison spent $4 million in 1960{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1960|value=4|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} to install power cables, convert the trolley tracks, and construct slip roads between the lower-level roadways.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 10, 1960 |title=Queensboro Bridge Used by Con Ed for New Cables |page=8 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1327212169}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Joseph C. |date=August 10, 1960 |title=Con Ed Giving City Two Bridge Roads; Utility, In Paying $4,000,000 For Queensboro Lanes, Gets Route for Power Lines |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/08/10/archives/con-ed-giving-city-two-bridge-roads-utility-in-paying-4000000-for.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> The new lanes, on the northern and southern sides of the bridge, opened on September 15, 1960.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 16, 1960 |title=2 Bridge Lanes Added; Opened on Queensborough Span for Autos Only |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/16/archives/2-bridge-lanes-added-opened-on-queensborough-span-for-autos-only.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> The same year, Manhattan borough president [[Louis A. Cioffi]] proposed a $2.06 million ramp at the Manhattan end of the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Charles G. |date=May 19, 1960 |title=25 Million in Roads Approved for City |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/05/19/archives/25-million-in-roads-approved-for-city-big-road-jobs-get-approval-by.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1960|value=2.06|fmt=c|r=0}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Also during the early 1960s, the city's Department of Public Works requested funding for a feasibility study of additional roadways,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Illson |first=Murray |date=August 23, 1961 |title=City Builds Colleges Too Slowly, Dr. Everett Tells Plan Board; Delay and Inefficiency Block Much-Needed Construction, Chancellor Declares |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/08/23/archives/city-builds-colleges-too-slowly-dr-everett-tells-plan-board-delay.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> and the city's traffic commissioner [[Henry Barnes (traffic engineer)|Henry Barnes]] studied the feasibility of a computer-controlled traffic monitoring system for the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stengren |first=Bernard |date=February 9, 1962 |title=Bridge Computer for Cars Studied; Plan to Cut Queensboro Jam Is Costly, Barnes Says |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/02/09/archives/bridge-computer-for-cars-studied-plan-to-cut-queensboro-jam-is.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref>

In 1964, the NY&nbsp;24 designation was removed from the road deck, leaving a solo NY&nbsp;25 to do so.<ref>{{cite map |title=New York and Metropolitan New York |publisher=[[Sinclair Oil Corporation]] |year=1964 |cartography=Rand McNally and Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |title=Gousha Road Atlas |publisher=H.M. Gousha Company |year=1967 |cartography=H.M. Gousha Company |page=56 |url=http://www.broermapsonline.org/members/NorthAmerica/UnitedStates/Midatlantic/NewYork/NewYorkCity/gousha_ra_1967_038.html |access-date=January 28, 2010}}</ref> That same year, mayor [[Robert F. Wagner Jr.]] approved the demolition of several buildings for a proposed underpass connecting the bridge's westbound lanes with Second Avenue in Manhattan.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1964 |title=Mayor Approves Razing on 2d Ave.; 11 Buildings Face Demolition for Bridge Underpass |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/08/archives/mayor-approves-razing-on-2d-ave-11-buildings-face-demolition-for.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> Had the underpass been built, a bus terminal and landscaped plaza would also have been erected at the Manhattan end of the bridge.<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Kane |first=Lawrence |date=March 13, 1965 |title=City Benefactor to Improve Plaza; Plans to Landscape Area off Queensboro Bridge |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/13/archives/city-benefactor-to-improve-plaza-plans-to-landscape-area-off.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> These plans were scrapped due to a lack of funding.<ref name="nyt-1976-01-19">{{Cite news |date=January 19, 1976 |title=Residents Battling a Shopping Complex At Queensboro Bridge as Problem-Prone |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/19/archives/residents-battling-a-shopping-complex-at-queensboro-bridge-as.html |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref> City planner [[Robert Moses]] proposed a 1,000-space parking garage at the bridge's Manhattan end in 1965, though Barnes objected to the plan.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kihss |first=Peter |date=March 8, 1965 |title=Moses Asks Garage At 59th St. Bridge; Plan Angers Barnes; Moses Proposes a Garage at Queensboro Bridge |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/03/08/archives/moses-asks-garage-at-59th-st-bridge-plan-angers-barnes-moses.html |access-date=October 10, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 8, 1965 |title=Moses Asks Garage & Barnes Burns Up |pages=5 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-moses-asks-garage-barnes-bu/133245982/ |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> Instead, Barnes proposed a 1,100-spot garage on the Queens side,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Devlin |first=John C. |date=January 25, 1966 |title=Barnes Urges Queens Garage To Relieve Traffic in Manhattan |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/01/25/archives/barnes-urges-queens-garage-to-relieve-traffic-in-manhattan.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> which was approved in June 1966.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 25, 1966 |title=Parking Garage in Queens Voted; 1,100-Car Facility Scheduled for Long Island City |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/06/25/archives/parking-garage-in-queens-voted-1100car-facility-scheduled-for-long.html |access-date=October 11, 2023}}</ref> The bridge was repainted for seven months starting in November 1966 at a cost of $240,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 22, 1966 |title=Painting Job Is Started On Queensboro Bridge |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/22/archives/painting-job-is-started-on-queensboro-bridge.html |access-date=March 15, 2022}}</ref>{{efn-lr|About ${{Inflation|index=US-GDP|start_year=1966|value=0.24|fmt=c|r=2}} million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|US-GDP|group=lower-alpha}}}} Between 1968 and 1970, officials commissioned five studies of Queensboro Bridge traffic, but no changes were made as a result.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tolchin |first=Martin |date=July 14, 1970 |title=Consultants Did 10 Bridge Studies: And None Was Implemented on Queensboro Since '48 |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/07/14/archives/consultants-did-10-bridge-studies-and-none-was-implemented-on.html |access-date=October 12, 2023}}</ref>