Editing Queensboro Bridge (section)

=== Spans ===
The lengths of the steel spans are as follows, from the westernmost span to the easternmost:<ref name="ER p. 98" /><ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p126873067">{{Cite magazine |date=April 1, 1905 |title=The New Blackwell's Island Bridge |magazine=Scientific American |volume=XCII |issue=13 |page=265 |id={{ProQuest|126873067}}}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Spans of the Queensboro Bridge<ref name="ER p. 98" /><ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p126873067"/>
|-
! West end !! East end !! Crosses !! Length
|-
| Manhattan anchorage || Manhattan pier || [[York Avenue and Sutton Place|York Avenue]] || {{cvt|469.5|ft|m}}
|-
| Manhattan pier || Roosevelt Island western pier || East River's west channel, [[FDR Drive]] || {{cvt|1182|ft|m}}
|-
| Roosevelt Island western pier || Roosevelt Island eastern pier || Roosevelt Island || {{cvt|630|ft|m}}
|-
| Roosevelt Island eastern pier || Queens pier || East River's east channel || {{cvt|984|ft|m}}
|-
| Queens pier || Queens anchorage || Vernon Boulevard || {{cvt|459|ft|m}}
|}
The bridge was intended to carry a [[dead load]] of {{convert|32200|lb/ft}}.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /> Each span includes two parallel lines of trusses, one each on the north and south sides of the bridge; the centers of these trusses are spaced {{Convert|60|ft}} apart.<ref name="p126851307">{{Cite magazine |date=March 28, 1908 |title=Joining of Last Span of Blackwell's Island Bridge. |magazine=Scientific American |volume=XCVIII |issue=13 |page=223 |id={{ProQuest|126851307}}}}</ref> The bottom chord of each set of trusses is composed of [[box girder]]s, while the top chord is composed of [[eyebar]]s measuring {{convert|8|to|12|in}} deep.<ref name="p126873067" /> The trusses range in height from {{convert|45|to|118|ft}} between the bottom and top chords; the steel towers atop each pier measure {{convert|185|ft}} tall.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /> Unlike other large bridges, the trusses are not suspended; instead, the spans are directly connected to each other.<ref name="NPS p. 2">{{harvnb|National Park Service|1978|ps=.|p=2}}</ref> In addition, there are transverse floor beams, which protrude {{convert|13|ft}} from the trusses on either side of the deck.<ref name="SA p. 101">{{harvnb|Scientific American|1907|ps=.|p=101}}</ref> Atop the bridge's topmost chords were originally galvanized steel ropes, which acted as handrails for bridge painters. Five hand-operated scaffolds were also placed on the bridge.<ref name="ER p. 99">{{harvnb|Engineering Record|1913|ps=.|p=99}}</ref>

The spans are cantilevered from steel towers that rise above four central [[Pier (architecture)|piers]].<ref name="p126851307" /><ref name="NPS p. 2" /> Each cantilevered section measures {{convert|808|to|1061|ft}} long. The two spans above the East River's channels are composed of cantilever arms, which extend outward from the towers on either side of the channel. Each pair of cantilever arms meets at a set of [[Bent (structural)|bents]] above the middle of each channel. The bents allowed the cantilever arms to move horizontally due to temperature changes, and it allowed structural loads to be distributed between the two arms.<ref name="p126851307" /> The bridge uses nickel-steel bars that were intended to be 40 to 50 percent stronger than regular structural-steel bars of the same weight. The beams could withstand loads of up to {{convert|56000|lb}} each, while the nickel-steel eyebars were intended to withstand loads of up to {{Convert|85000|lb}}.<ref name="SA p. 100" /><ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /> The decks themselves were designed to carry as much as {{Convert|16000|lb/ft}}.<ref name="p144906008">{{cite news |date=March 31, 1909 |title=$20,000,000 Bridge Open: Mayor and Newsboys First to Cross From Manhattan to Queens Greatest of Four Structures Spanning East River Is, With Approaches, 7,424 Feet Long. |page=5 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |id={{ProQuest|144906008}}}}</ref>

The steel spans between the anchorages weigh a total of {{Convert|52000|ST|LT t}}<ref name="SA p. 100" /> and have a maximum grade of 3.41 percent.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p572216360">{{cite news |date=March 31, 1909 |title=The Queensboro Open: Thousands Fight to Be First Over Bridge Real Celebration to Be Held in June—Cost Almost Double the First Estimate |page=1 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|572216360}}}}</ref> The spans were intended to be at least {{Convert|118|ft}} above [[mean high water]];<ref name="p899683487">{{Cite magazine |date=April 29, 1904 |title=Masonry for the Blackwell's Island Bridge |magazine=Railroad Gazette |volume=36 |issue=18 |pages=319–320 |id={{ProQuest|899683487}}}}</ref> the bridge reaches a maximum height of {{Convert|135|ft}}<ref name="p144906008" /><ref name="p507939040">{{cite news |date=March 30, 1909 |title=Great Bridge Finished; Another to Be Begun |page=12 |work=The Christian Science Monitor |id={{ProQuest|507939040}}}}</ref> or {{Convert|140|ft}} above high mean water.<ref name="p278370206" /> Until it was surpassed by the [[Quebec Bridge]] in 1917, the span between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island was the longest cantilever in North America;<ref name="asce">{{cite web |title=Queensboro Bridge |url=http://www.ascemetsection.org/committees/history-and-heritage/landmarks/queensboro-bridge |access-date=November 12, 2016 |publisher=ASCE Metropolitan Section |archive-date=November 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113122736/http://www.ascemetsection.org/committees/history-and-heritage/landmarks/queensboro-bridge |url-status=live}}</ref> it was also the second-longest worldwide, after the [[Forth Bridge]] in Scotland.<ref name="p126873067" /><ref name="n134967934">{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1904 |title=Commissioner Best's Party at the Tower on Blackwell's Island |pages=17 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-commissioner-be/134967934/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214243/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-commissioner-be/134967934/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

====Levels====
The upper level is {{Convert|67|ft}} wide.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p572216360" /> The upper level originally contained two pedestrian walkways and two [[elevated railway]] tracks, which connected a spur of the [[IRT Second Avenue Line|IRT Second Avenue elevated line]] in Manhattan to the [[Queensboro Plaza station]] in Queens.<ref name="ER p. 98" /><ref name="open" /> There were also provisions for two additional tracks between the trusses (taking up the space occupied by the walkways), as well as {{Convert|13|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} walkways cantilevered outside the trusses.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p126851307" /> {{As of|2023}}, the upper level has four lanes of automobile traffic, consisting of a pair of two-lane roadways. Although both roadways end at Thomson Avenue in Queens, they diverge in Manhattan. The two northern lanes, normally used by westbound traffic, lead to 62nd and 63rd Streets. The two southern lanes, normally used by eastbound traffic, lead to 57th and 58th Streets.<ref name="NPS p. 3">{{harvnb|National Park Service|1978|ps=.|p=3}}</ref> The southern roadway is used as a westbound [[high-occupancy vehicle lane]] during morning rush hours, when all eastbound traffic uses the lower level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HOV Lanes |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/carpool.shtml |access-date=December 18, 2017 |website=www.nyc.gov |language=en |archive-date=July 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190703015414/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/motorist/carpool.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

The lower level is {{Convert|86|ft}} wide<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="p572216360" /> and is divided into three sections: a northern, central, and southern roadway.<ref name="open" /> The center roadway is {{Convert|56|ft}} wide and was originally composed of a {{convert|36|ft|m|-wide|adj=mid}} general-purpose road in the middle, flanked by a pair of trolley tracks.<ref name="The New York Times 1908 p752" /><ref name="SA p. 101" /> The northern and southern lower-level roadways each had one additional trolley track, for a total of four trolley tracks.<ref name="SA p. 101" /><ref name="open" /> The central roadway originally had a wood block pavement.<ref name="ER p. 98" /><ref name="n133327304" /> {{As of|2025}}, the lower level has four vehicular lanes: two in each direction within the center roadway. The northern lower-level roadway was converted into a permanent pedestrian walk and bicycle path in September 2000;<ref>{{cite web |title=Queensboro Bridge Rehabilitation Program |url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/qbrehab.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080330082222/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/bridges/qbrehab.shtml |archive-date=March 30, 2008 |access-date=March 13, 2010 |work=New York City Department of Transportation}}</ref> pedestrians were relocated to the southern lower-level roadway in 2025.<ref name="Russo-Lennon u449"/>

==== Piers ====
The five spans are supported by six piers; the westernmost and easternmost piers act as anchorages.<ref name="p899683487" /><ref name="The New York Times 2002 j597" /> Each of the piers consists of two columns supported by an [[elliptical arch]] measuring {{Convert|50|ft}} wide.<ref name="p899683487" /> The piers each measure {{convert|130|by|40|ft}} across at their bases (including the arched openings).<ref name="p571537619">{{cite news |date=April 20, 1904 |title=Structural Work to Begin Soon: Six Stone Piers of Blackwell's Island Bridge Completed |page=6 |work=New-York Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|571537619}}}}</ref> They range from {{Convert|100|to|125|ft}} tall, with the piers on Roosevelt Island being the tallest.<ref name="n134969352">{{Cite news |date=May 27, 1904 |title=Completing Piers for East River Bridge No. 4 |pages=9 |work=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-completing-pier/134969352/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110214238/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-brooklyn-daily-eagle-completing-pier/134969352/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The foundations of the Roosevelt Island piers are shallow, since there is bedrock just below the surface of the island. By comparison, the piers in Manhattan and Queens extend over {{convert|50|ft}} deep.<ref name="SA p. 100" />

The piers are faced with Maine granite and are attached to a backing made of concrete and Mohawk Valley limestone.<ref name="p571537619" /> In total, workers used {{convert|14000|yd3}} of limestone, {{convert|17000|yd3}} of concrete, and {{convert|22800|yd3}} of granite to build the bridges.<ref name="p899683487" /> Above the piers rise the bridge's towers, which contain domed decorations and [[Art Nouveau]]-inspired spires.<ref name="The New York Times 2002 j597">{{cite web |last=Gray |first=Christopher |date=November 24, 2002 |title=Streetscapes/The Queensboro Bridge; Spanning the East River, With a Sense of Drama |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/24/realestate/streetscapes-the-queensboro-bridge-spanning-the-east-river-with-a-sense-of-drama.html |access-date=October 19, 2023 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022014709/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/24/realestate/streetscapes-the-queensboro-bridge-spanning-the-east-river-with-a-sense-of-drama.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The towers extend {{Convert|185|ft}} above the bridge's lower chords.<ref name="p144906008" /> The tops of the towers are made of 225 granite blocks, which were part of the original design but not added until 1937.<ref name="p1250464082" /> The spires were removed at some point in the 20th century after deteriorating.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1960 |title=The 8 Million |pages=2 |work=New York Daily News |issn=2692-1251 |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-the-8-million/133243953/ |access-date=October 11, 2023 |archive-date=October 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017112837/https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news-the-8-million/133243953/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The two anchorages, one each at the Manhattan and Queens ends, are about {{convert|500|ft}} inland of the shore.<ref name="n134961972" /> Each anchorage was built with spiral staircases and elevators.<ref name="n134969352" /><ref name="n134961972">{{Cite news |date=May 23, 1903 |title=Blackwell's Island Bridge's Progress |pages=19 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridges/134961972/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202610/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-blackwells-island-bridges/134961972/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The anchorage in Manhattan is between [[First Avenue (Manhattan)|First Avenue]] and [[York Avenue]], while the Queens anchorage is near Vernon Boulevard.<ref name="p571537619" /> The anchorages are topped by small rooms with arched openings.<ref name="n134965012">{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1903 |title=Natural Bridge Foundations |pages=11 |work=Times Union |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-natural-bridge-foundations/134965012/ |access-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-date=November 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110202606/https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-union-natural-bridge-foundations/134965012/ |url-status=live}}</ref>