Category: Bridges

On the evening of July 25, 2017, the main span of the K bridge was finally lowered onto a barge to be shipped off for recycling. It was an evening ten years in the making.
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In 2009, the borden avenue bridge in L.I.C. was in serious trouble.
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This poured concrete bridge has sat abandoned for just over 20 years. It’s a fairly unique place to go for an exploring trip as there are ladders that lead you from the top of the bridge down inside, and then out onto the arches with span the rushing river below. The large quantity of sloppy graffiti here stands testament to the fact that this is definitely the local hangout for stoners and reprobates alike.

Ironically, just now as I did some searching online to come up with something else to say about this bridge I learned that just a scant few days after our visit, an 18 year old who jumped into the river off a similar nearby bridge went missing. I can’t say this surprises me much, as I know of a number of people who come out here and bridge-jump into the deep parts of the river for summertime fun. Definitely not a good idea though if you’re not a good swimmer.

Each and every bridge in NYC has some unique characteristics that set them apart from the others around town. The 59th street bridge is no exception.

One little known fact is that the outer roadways, which are current used on the north side for pedistrian traffic and on the south for queens bound auto traffic, were orginally built for a trolley line. These trolleys made several stops along the bridge. these stops were located just across land on either end, where long staircases and elevators lead down to street level, and in the center of the bridge, over roosevelt island. trucks

The staircases located within the bridge towers have been (and still are) locked up tight and not to be used by the public. They are currently a very dark forbidding place. The stairs are covered in concrete rubble in locations, with the thick yet well preserved banisters occasionally knocked over from the various work that was performed on the bridge over the years. Running parallel to these stairs is an elevator shaft, encased not in concrete walls but iron fencing. At the top of the shaft, one might find a very old school floor indicator, also forged of solid iron and installed when the bridge was built in 1910.

In an exploration sense, this location isn’t all that interesting, but it’s historic value made it worth the trip and worth the risks.