Editing Interstate 678 (section)

==== Late 20th century ====
[[File:2024-06-19 12 16 56 View north along the northbound lanes of Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) from the overpass for Liberty Avenue in Queens, New York City, New York.jpg|thumb|right|I-678 (Van Wyck Expressway) northbound at Liberty Avenue, with [[AirTrain JFK]] utilizing the median]]
In early 1988, both directions of the Whitestone Expressway near Northern Boulevard were temporarily closed because several girders in the southbound viaduct had corroded to the point that a structural failure was imminent.<ref>{{cite web |last = James |first = George |title = Sign of Collapse Leads to Closing of Queens Road |website = The New York Times |date = March 3, 1988 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/03/nyregion/sign-of-collapse-leads-to-closing-of-queens-road.html |access-date = March 12, 2018 |archive-date = March 12, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180312144048/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/03/nyregion/sign-of-collapse-leads-to-closing-of-queens-road.html |url-status = live }}</ref> This part of the Whitestone Expressway, as well as the Van Wyck Expressway from Fowler Avenue south to the Long Island Expressway, were renovated in the mid-1990s.<ref>{{cite book |title = Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Section 4(f) Evaluation: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Airport Access Program |volume = 1 |author1 = Federal Aviation Administration |author2 = New York State Department of Transportation |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration |year = 1994 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=zh83AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA62 |access-date = March 12, 2018 |page = 62 |via = Google Books |archive-date = January 18, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222039/https://books.google.com/books?id=zh83AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA62 |url-status = live }}</ref> Starting in 2003, the northbound lanes of the Whitestone Expressway near Northern Boulevard were renovated. The project involved replacing a [[bascule bridge]] that had been at the location since the original parkway had opened in 1939, creating two U-turn ramps, and creating a new exit ramp from eastbound Northern Boulevard to Linden Place. Previously, traffic from Northern Boulevard had to cross over three lanes of northbound traffic from the Van Wyck Expressway.<ref>{{cite web |title = State to Begin Construction on Whitestone Expressway |last = Dworkowitz |first = Alexander |date = October 20, 2003 |url = https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2003/10/20030306-archive124.html |work = [[TimesLedger Newspapers|Times Ledger]] |location = Queens, NY |access-date = March 12, 2018 |archive-date = March 12, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180312144112/https://www.timesledger.com/stories/2003/10/20030306-archive124.html |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last = Rhoades |first = Liz |title = Expect Some Inconveniences with Whitestone Expwy. Work |website = Queens Chronicle |date = July 10, 2003 |url = http://www.qchron.com/news/north/expect-some-inconveniences-with-whitestone-expwy-work/article_33e11141-4eff-5a1f-8c38-d75192900e2e.html |access-date = March 12, 2018 |archive-date = January 18, 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230118222053/https://www.qchron.com/editions/north/expect-some-inconveniences-with-whitestone-expwy-work/article_33e11141-4eff-5a1f-8c38-d75192900e2e.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

The Jamaica Branch of the [[AirTrain JFK]] [[people mover]] system was built within the median of the Van Wyck from Atlantic Avenue to the Belt Parkway. Construction started in May 1998.<ref name="NYTimes-JFKExp-Jan2005">{{cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/nyregion/train-to-jfk-scores-with-fliers-but-not-with-airport-workers.html |title = Train to J.F.K. Scores With Fliers, but Not with Airport Workers |last1 = Chan |first1 = Sewell |date = January 12, 2005 |work = The New York Times |access-date = July 22, 2016 |archive-date = July 29, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170729015122/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/12/nyregion/train-to-jfk-scores-with-fliers-but-not-with-airport-workers.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="UCL_Bartlett">{{cite web |url = http://www.omegacentre.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/USA_AIRTRAIN_PROFILE.pdf |title = Project Profile: USA, New York Airtrain |date = September 6, 2011 |publisher = University College London [[The Bartlett|Bartlett School of Planning]] |access-date = July 23, 2016 |archive-date = August 17, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160817073215/http://www.omegacentre.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/USA_AIRTRAIN_PROFILE.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>{{rp|22}} The fact that the Jamaica Branch had to be built in the middle of the Van Wyck Expressway, combined with the varying length and curves of the track spans, caused complications during construction. One lane in each direction was closed during the off-peak hours, causing congestion on the Van Wyck.<ref name="UCL_Bartlett"/>{{rp|22}} The AirTrain's guideways above the Van Wyck were completed in August 2001.<ref>{{Cite news |url = http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2001/34/20010823-archive305.html |title = AirTrain's Guideway above Van Wyck Is Complete |last = Scheinbart |first = Betsy |date = August 23, 2001 |work = Times Ledger |location = Queens, NY |access-date = September 1, 2017 |language = en |archive-date = September 2, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170902002730/http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2001/34/20010823-archive305.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The system opened in December 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/travel/travel-advisory-a-train-to-the-plane-at-long-last.html |title = Travel Advisory: A Train to the Plane, At Long Last |last = Stellin |first = Susan |date = December 14, 2003 |work = The New York Times |access-date = December 21, 2016 |archive-date = December 22, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161222002141/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/travel/travel-advisory-a-train-to-the-plane-at-long-last.html |url-status = live }}</ref>
[[File:BWApproach Center Lane (6902287890).jpg|thumb|right|upright|Bronx–Whitestone Bridge approach replacement]]