Editing Interstate 678 (section)

=== 1964 World's Fair upgrades ===
[[File:Whitestone Xp exit 16 jeh.JPG|thumb|left|I-678 exit&nbsp;16 in College Point]]

In December 1957, the state approved a $9.5&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|9500000|1957}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) project to widen a {{Convert|2.1|mi|km|adj=on}} segment of Whitestone Parkway from Northern Boulevard to the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge, build a new bridge over the [[Flushing River]], and improve the parkway to [[Interstate Highway standards]] using funds from the [[Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956]], in which the federal government would pay 90&nbsp;percent of the proposed highway's cost.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=December 16, 1957 |title=9.5 Million Project to Aid Boro Traffic |page=1 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201957%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201957%2520a%2520-%25201623.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |via=[[Fultonhistory.com]] |access-date=March 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118221534/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201957/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201957%20a%20-%201623.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The parkway would be expanded from two to four lanes in each direction, and the interchange with the Cross Island Parkway would also be upgraded.<ref name="n112364037">{{Cite news |date=March 8, 1959 |title=Flushing Span Hearing is Set for April 15 |pages=683 |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112364037/flushing-span-hearing-is-set-for-april/ |access-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112364037/flushing-span-hearing-is-set-for-april/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The design process for the upgrade was nearing completion when the state approved the project.<ref name=":5" /> The head of the [[Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority]] (TBTA), [[Robert Moses]], stated that the upgrade could start in 1960. At the time of the announcement, the junction with Northern Boulevard was heavily congested because motorists used local streets to connect to the [[Grand Central Parkway]], opposite Flushing Meadows Park from the Whitestone Parkway.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 9, 1958 |title=Parkway Link to End Northern Blvd. Jams |page=1 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201958%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201958%2520-%25200212.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |via=Fultonhistory.com |access-date=March 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222036/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201958/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201958%20-%200212.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> In early 1959, Moses formally asked the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] for permission to close the existing Flushing River drawbridge permanently.<ref name="nyt-1959-01-15">{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Joseph C. |date=January 15, 1959 |title=Widening Sought for Whitestone; Drawbridge Closing Asked to Build Second Span for an 8-Lane Parkway |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/01/15/archives/widening-sought-for-whitestone-drawbridge-closing-asked-to-build.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145118/https://www.nytimes.com/1959/01/15/archives/widening-sought-for-whitestone-drawbridge-closing-asked-to-build.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The drawbridge would then be upgraded to Interstate standards, and a second, fixed span would be built adjacent to the drawbridge.<ref name="n112364037" /><ref name="nyt-1959-01-15" /> Several boat operators initially opposed the plans—the bridges would be {{convert|40.8|ft}} above [[mean high water]], shorter than some of the vessels that used the creek—but they eventually withdrew their opposition.<ref name="nyt-1959-04-16">{{Cite news |last=Nevard |first=Jacques |date=April 16, 1959 |title=Opposition Ended on Flushing Span; Harbor Craft Men Reverse Position on Fixed Bridge Across Mouth of Creek |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/04/16/archives/opposition-ended-on-flushing-span-harbor-craft-men-reverse-position.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145119/https://www.nytimes.com/1959/04/16/archives/opposition-ended-on-flushing-span-harbor-craft-men-reverse-position.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Flushing Meadows Park was subsequently selected to host the [[1964 New York World's Fair]]. In advance of the World's Fair, city officials announced in early 1960 that they would upgrade the Whitestone Parkway and extend the Van Wyck Expressway northward to the Whitestone Expressway.<ref name="nyt-1963-05-132">{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Joseph C. |date=May 13, 1963 |title=State Warns Contractors to End Lag In World's Fair Road Jobs; 5 Projects in Queens Running Late, and Traffic Is a Mess Static Warns Contractors to End Lag in World's Fair Road Jobs |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/13/archives/state-warns-contractors-to-end-lag-in-worlds-fair-road-jobs-5.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145118/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/13/archives/state-warns-contractors-to-end-lag-in-worlds-fair-road-jobs-5.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="LISJ-HwyWorkSet-1961">{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1961 |title=Highway Work Set on 3 New Projects |page=2 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201961%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201961%2520b%2520-%25201699.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |via=Fultonhistory.com |access-date=March 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222036/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201961/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201961%20b%20-%201699.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> City officials approved a $10 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|10000000|1960}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) project to upgrade the Whitestone Parkway in May 1960,<ref>{{cite news |date=May 19, 1960 |title=25 Million in Roads Approved for City |work=The New York Times |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/05/19/105434739.pdf |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222037/https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1960/05/19/105434739.html?pdf_redirect=true&site=false |url-status=live }}</ref> and work on the parkway began near Northern Boulevard in September 1961.<ref name="nyt-1961-09-17">{{Cite news |date=September 17, 1961 |title=First Work Set on Roads to Fair; Queens Interchange Begins Tomorrow -- Traffic to Shift |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/09/17/archives/first-work-set-on-roads-to-fair-queens-interchange-begins-tomorrow.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222037/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/09/17/archives/first-work-set-on-roads-to-fair-queens-interchange-begins-tomorrow.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Contracts for the upgrade were awarded in September 1962.<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 28, 1962 |title=Whitestone X-Way, New Flushing Span OK |page=3 |work=Long Island Star-Journal |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201962%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201962%2520-%25209187.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |via=Fultonhistory.com |access-date=March 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222037/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201962/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201962%20-%209187.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The portion of the Hutchinson River Parkway south of Bruckner Boulevard and all of the Whitestone Parkway were converted to Interstate standards. The Whitestone Parkway was subsequently renamed the Whitestone Expressway, and the aforementioned segment of the Hutchinson River Parkway was renamed the Hutchinson River Expressway.<ref name="1962map">{{cite map|title=Long Island and New York City|year=1962|author=Rand McNally and Company|scale=1:82,902|location=Chicago|publisher=Rand McNally and Company|inset=Long Island (Western Section)|oclc=55707497}}</ref><ref name="1963map">{{cite map|title=New York Happy Motoring Guide|author1=Esso|author2=General Drafting|year=1963|edition=1963|scale=1:687,000|location=Convent Station, NJ|publisher=Esso|inset=Northern approaches to New York City|oclc=26606599}}</ref> The new four-lane bridges over the Flushing River opened in June 1963; it temporarily carried two lanes in each direction until the old drawbridge was upgraded.<ref name="nyt-1963-06-04">{{Cite news |date=June 4, 1963 |title=New 4-Lane Bridge Over Flushing River Opens Today |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/04/archives/new-4lane-bridge-over-flushing-river-opens-today.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=January 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222038/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/04/archives/new-4lane-bridge-over-flushing-river-opens-today.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Whitestone Expressway upgrade was completed on December 12, 1963.<ref name="nyt-1963-12-12">{{Cite news |date=December 12, 1963 |title=New Expressway Link Opens in Queens Today |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/12/archives/new-expressway-link-opens-in-queens-today.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145117/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/12/archives/new-expressway-link-opens-in-queens-today.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[New York City Planning Commission]] approved the {{convert|3.7|mi|km|adj=on}} extension of the Van Wyck Expressway in April 1960. At the time, that project was planned to cost $3.48 million.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bennett |first=Charles G. |date=April 6, 1961 |title=New Queens Road to '64 Fair Voted; Planners Back Extension of Van Wyck Expressway by 3.7 Miles to North World's Fair Expressway Link To Queens Is Voted by Planners |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/04/06/archives/new-queens-road-to-64-fair-voted-planners-back-extension-of-van.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145119/https://www.nytimes.com/1961/04/06/archives/new-queens-road-to-64-fair-voted-planners-back-extension-of-van.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Work on the Van Wyck Expressway Extension, as it was originally known, began in late 1961.<ref name="LISJ-HwyWorkSet-1961" /><ref name="nyt-1961-09-17" /> The extension opened on December 30, 1963,<ref name="nyt-1963-12-28">{{Cite news |last=Stengren |first=Bernard |date=December 28, 1963 |title=All Major Roads to World's Fair Expected to Be Ready in a Month; New Queens Road to Open Monday |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/28/archives/all-major-roads-to-worlds-fair-expected-to-be-ready-in-a-month-new.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145116/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/12/28/archives/all-major-roads-to-worlds-fair-expected-to-be-ready-in-a-month-new.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="p964419951">{{cite news |last=Beltrone |first=Art |date=December 30, 1963 |title=Drivers Get a Break |page=11 |work=Newsday |id={{ProQuest|964419951}}}}</ref> although the Long Island Expressway and Jewel Avenue interchanges were not yet completed at the time.<ref name="p964419951" /> The opening of the Jewel Avenue interchange had been delayed by six weeks after a major steel contractor had filed for bankruptcy during the project.<ref name="nyt-1963-05-13">{{Cite news |last=Ingraham |first=Joseph C. |date=May 13, 1963 |title=State Warns Contractors to End Lag In World's Fair Road Jobs; 5 Projects in Queens Running Late, and Traffic Is a Mess Static Warns Contractors to End Lag in World's Fair Road Jobs |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/13/archives/state-warns-contractors-to-end-lag-in-worlds-fair-road-jobs-5.html |access-date=November 1, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101145118/https://www.nytimes.com/1963/05/13/archives/state-warns-contractors-to-end-lag-in-worlds-fair-road-jobs-5.html |url-status=live }}</ref>