Editing Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge in Queens, New York}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Redirect|Cross Bay Bridge|the bridge in Tseung Kwan O New Town, Hong Kong|Cross Bay Link}}
{{Infobox bridge
|name             = Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge
|image            = Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge Aerial.jpg
|image_size       = 300px
|alt              =
|caption          = Aerial view of the bridge
|official_name    =
|other_name       =
|carries          = [[Cross Bay Boulevard]]
|crosses          = [[Jamaica Bay]]
|locale           = [[Broad Channel]] and [[Rockaway Peninsula]], in [[New York City]]
|maint            = [[MTA Bridges and Tunnels]]
|id               =
|designer         =
|design           =
|material         =
|spans            =
|pierswater       =
|mainspan         = {{convert|275|ft|m}}
|length           = {{convert|3000|ft|m}}
|width            =
|height           =
|load             =
|clearance        =
|below            = {{convert|55|ft|m}}
|traffic          = 24,150 (2016)<ref name="nycdot16">{{cite web|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/nyc-bridge-traffic-report-2016.pdf|title=New York City Bridge Traffic Volumes|date=2016|publisher=New York City Department of Transportation|page=11|accessdate=March 16, 2018}}</ref>
|builder          =
|begin            =
|complete         =
|open             = May 28, 1970
|preceded         =
|followed         =
|heritage         =
|collapsed        =
|closed           =
|toll             = As of August 6, 2023, $5.60 (Tolls By Mail and non-New York [[E-ZPass]]); $2.60 (New York E-ZPass); $4.11 (Mid-Tier NYCSC E-Z Pass)
|coordinates      = {{coord|40.591497|N|73.819614|W|region:US-NY|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Cross Bay Bridge zoom jeh.jpg|thumb|right|Bridge viewed from the ground]]
The '''Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge''' (originally '''Cross Bay Bridge''' or '''Cross Bay Parkway Bridge''') is a [[toll bridge]] that carries [[Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards|Cross Bay Boulevard]] across [[Jamaica Bay]] in [[Queens]], [[New York City]], between [[Broad Channel, Queens|Broad Channel]] and the [[Rockaway Peninsula]].<ref name=free>{{cite news |first=Fernanda |last=Santos |title=For Whom the Bridge Toll Ends a Trip That's Free |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/10/nyregion/10metjournal.html |quote=There is another crossing on the northern end of Broad Channel, the Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge, which connects the island to the Howard Beach section of Queens |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 9, 2010 |accessdate=April 10, 2010}}</ref>

== Description and history ==
Planning for a bridge across Jamaica Bay, connecting Howard Beach with Rockaway Beach via Beach Channel, had begun by 1917.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 7, 1917|title=Cross Bay Boulevard; Rockaway Property Owners Want Work Hurried.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1917/10/07/archives/cross-bay-boulevard-rockaway-property-owners-want-work-hurried.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Construction began in 1923.<ref name= almost>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55211431/|title=Cross-Bay Bridge Almost Completed|date=September 10, 1923|work=Brooklyn Standard Union|access-date=July 12, 2020|page=3|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=June 16, 1918|title=Plan to Build Boulevard Across Jamaica Bay Before Board of Estimate|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1918/06/16/archives/plan-to-build-boulevard-across-jamaica-bay-before-board-of-estimate.html|access-date=July 13, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=R92}}</ref> The bridge was intended to save travel time for people in Manhattan traveling to the Rockaways.<ref name= almost /> The bridge was designed by the engineering firm of [[Madigan-Hyland]]. Contractor [[J. Rich Steers, Inc.]], built the bridge for the New York City Parkway Authority, which was later merged into the [[MTA Bridges and Tunnels|Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority]].<ref name="nyt19390603">{{Cite news|date=June 3, 1939|title=Rockaway: Another Link|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/03/archives/rockaway-another-link.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="LIDaily-CrossBayBridge-June31939-Pg1" /> The bridge was a part of a program to develop Jamaica Bay as a recreational area instead of an industrial port. The bridge opened in 1925, at a cost of $7{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|7|1925|r=0}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55209096/|title=Bridge Opening Set|work=New York Daily News|date=October 2, 1925|page=2|access-date=July 12, 2020|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref>

The original bridge was intended to sufficiently handle traffic for many years to come, but by 1929 it was already becoming overly congested.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55211642/|title=1,000 More City Workers Added to 27,000 Listed For Pay Increases To-Day: Whalen Asks Cross-Bay Bridge|date=June 27, 1929|work=Brooklyn Standard Union|access-date=July 12, 2020|page=3|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> The bridge was replaced with a newer, low-level [[bascule bridge]] in the same location that was opened on June 3, 1939, at a cost of $33{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|22|1939|r=0}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref name="nyt19390603" /><ref name="LIDaily-CrossBayBridge-June31939-Pg1" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55211840/|title=Rockaways Strut for Beauty Doctor Moses|date=June 3, 1939|work=New York Daily News|access-date=July 12, 2020|page=6|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> It consisted of a widened version of the previous drawbridge, and a grade-separated interchange complex feeding into [[Beach Channel Drive]] and the Cross Bay Parkway. The Cross Bay Parkway was extended south along Beach 94th Street and Beach 95th Street to the Shore Front Parkway along Rockaway Beach.<ref name="LIDaily-CrossBayBridge-June31939-Pg1">{{cite news |title=New Shorefront Parkway In Rockaways Opened; $12,000,000 Bay Parkway Thrown Open |work=Long Island Daily Press |via=[[Fultonhistory.com]] |date=June 3, 1939 |pages=[http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201939%2520a%2520%2520%25281380%2529.pdf 1], [http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939/Jamaica%20NY%20Long%20Island%20Daily%20Press%201939%20a%20%20(1381).pdf 2]}}</ref> Following its completion, Harry Taylor, head of the New York City Parkway Authority, said it had "transformed the old-time beach resort of blighted shacks, cheap amusements and limited play space into a modern playground of the type and character of [[Jones Beach State Park|Jones Beach]]."<ref>{{Cite news|date=June 3, 1939|title=Parkway Finished in the Rockaways|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/06/03/archives/parkway-finished-in-the-rockaways-moses-to-preside-at-ceremony.html|access-date=July 13, 2020|issn=0362-4331|page=12}}</ref>

The bridge was reconstructed at a cost of $26{{nbsp}}million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|26|1970|r=0}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) and opened to traffic on May 28, 1970. The current bridge is a high-level fixed bridge carrying six traffic lanes and a sidewalk on the east side.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Fowle|first=Farnsworth|date=May 29, 1970|title=Cross Bay Parkway Bridge Is Dedicated|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1970/05/29/archives/cross-bay-parkway-bridge-is-dedicated.html|access-date=July 12, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The bridge was built {{convert|55|feet|0}} high in order to allow boats pass under without the delays caused by the previous drawbridge.<ref name= finest>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/55211752/quip-on-old-draw-the-gov-dedicates/|title=Quip on Old Draw, The Gov Dedicates 'Finest' Span on L.I.|first=Bernard|last=Rabin|date=May 29, 1970|work=New York Daily News|access-date=July 12, 2020|page=256|via=newspapers.com {{open access}}}}</ref> The bridge is operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, an affiliate agency of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

== Tolls ==
{{as of|2023|08|06|df=us}}, drivers pay $5.60 per car or $4.71 per motorcycle for tolls by mail/non-NYCSC E-Z Pass. [[E-ZPass]] users with transponders issued by the New York E‑ZPass Customer Service Center pay $2.60 per car or $2.17 per motorcycle. Mid-Tier NYCSC E-Z Pass users pay $4.11 per car or $3.46 per motorcycle. All E-ZPass users with transponders not issued by the New York E-ZPass CSC will be required to pay Toll-by-mail rates.<ref name=car-toll-rates>{{cite web|url=https://new.mta.info/fares-and-tolls/bridges-and-tunnels/tolls-by-vehicle/cars|title=Car Toll Rates|at=Footnote 3|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>

Until 2010, residents of the Rockaways and Broad Channel could cross the bridge for free. Residents of Broad Channel and the Rockaways who have an E-ZPass pay $1.19 per crossing if they cross up to twice per day, but are not charged if they cross more than twice in 24 hours. The new toll for area residents was part of a series of [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] budget cuts.<ref name=free /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.mta.info/bandt/traffic/cbb-toll-rebate.html |title=Cross Bay Bridge Toll Rebate Change July 23 |publisher=[[MTA Bridges and Tunnels]] |accessdate=August 24, 2010 }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Starting in February 2024, all drivers who have a Queens address and a NYCSC E-ZPass have received a 100 percent rebate;<ref name="Team 2023 o914">{{cite web |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Bronx, Queens drivers eligible for E-ZPass toll rebate program |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/bronx-queens-henry-hudson-bridge-cross-bay-bridge-ezpass-toll-rebate-program/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=CBS New York}}</ref> Queens residents are automatically enrolled in the program.<ref name="ABC7 New York 2023 g451">{{cite web |date=December 7, 2023 |title=Governor Kathy Hochul announces E-ZPass rebates for 2 bridges in the Bronx and Queens |url=https://abc7ny.com/e-zpass-rebate-henry-hudson-bridge-cross-bay/14151164/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=ABC7 New York}}</ref> Residents of the Rockaways and Broad Channel receive not only a 100 percent rebate on Cross Bay Bridge tolls but also a reduced toll at the [[Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge]].<ref name="MTA Resident Program">{{cite web | title=MTA Bridges and Tunnels Resident Programs | website=MTA | date=April 11, 2021 | url=https://new.mta.info/fares-and-tolls/bridges-and-tunnels/resident-programs | access-date=December 9, 2023}}</ref>

[[Open road tolling|Open-road cashless tolling]] began on April 30, 2017. The tollbooths were dismantled, and drivers are no longer able to pay with cash or tokens at the bridge. Instead, there are cameras mounted onto new overhead gantries manufactured by [[TransCore]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://transcore.com/projects/mta-bt |title=Project Profile Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), New York |access-date=July 11, 2022 |website=TransCore}}</ref> near where the booths were located.<ref name="Siff 2016" /><ref name="WABC 2016" /> A vehicle without E-ZPass has a picture taken of its license plate and a bill for the toll is mailed to its owner.<ref name="MTA cashless">{{cite web | title=What Is Cashless Tolling? | website=MTA Bridges & Tunnels | url=http://web.mta.info/bandt/cashless/ | access-date=September 1, 2019}}</ref> For E-ZPass users, sensors detect their transponders wirelessly.<ref name="Siff 2016">{{cite web | last=Siff | first=Andrew | title=Automatic Tolls to Replace Gates at 9 NYC Spans: Cuomo | website=NBC New York | date=October 5, 2016 | url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Automatic-Tolls-Coming-to-New-York-City-Bridges-Tunnels-NYC-396050241.html | accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="WABC 2016">{{cite web | title=MTA rolls out cashless toll schedule for bridges, tunnels | website=ABC7 New York | date=December 21, 2016 | url=http://abc7ny.com/1666924/ | accessdate=December 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="MTA cashless" />  Residents with leftover bridge tokens were eligible to redeem their tokens for a refund through the E-ZPass Customer Service prior to April 29, 2017.<ref>{{cite web | last=Schapiro | first=Rich | title=Gov. Cuomo: Rockaway bridges no longer take cash and metal tokens | website=New York Daily News | date=April 30, 2017 | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/cuomo-rockaway-bridges-no-longer-cash-metal-tokens-article-1.3119225 | access-date=June 26, 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of reference routes in New York]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge}}
* {{official|http://web.mta.info/bandt/html/crossbay.html}}
* [http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/cross-bay/ Cross Bay Bridge @ NYCROADS.com]
* {{Structurae|id=20006133|title=Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge}}

{{NYC Bridge}}

{{crossings navbox
|structure = Crossings
|place = [[Jamaica Bay]]
|bridge = Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge
|bridge signs =
|upstream = [[Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge]]
|upstream signs =
|downstream = [[South Channel Bridge]]
|downstream signs =
}}

[[Category:1939 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Bascule bridges in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Bike paths in New York City]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1939]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1970]]
[[Category:Bridges in Queens, New York]]
[[Category:Concrete bridges in the United States]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in New York City]]
[[Category:Pedestrian bridges in New York City]]
[[Category:Road bridges in New York City]]
[[Category:Toll bridges in New York City]]
[[Category:Transportation in Rockaway, Queens]]
[[Category:Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority]]