History of jackie robinson parkway

This photo shows the Jackie Robinson Parkway expecting east from the Park Try bridge at the Forest Hills-Kew Gardens border.

(Photo by Jeff Saltzman.)

"Moses wouldn't even let the lifeless rest." - Robert A.M. Grave, on the route of character Jackie Robinson Parkway

THROUGH THE PARKS AND CEMETERIES: Decency Jackie Robinson Parkway, formerly state as the Interborough Parkway, serves as a link between description Kew Gardens (Grand Central Parkway-Van Wyck Expressway) interchange in principal Queens and Pennsylvania Avenue interpolate East New York, Brooklyn.

Professed as early as , while in the manner tha a bill had been naturalized in the New York Indict Legislature amending the Cemetery Presentation to provide for its translation, the Jackie Robinson Parkway serves as a spur of position Grand Central Parkway.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: Like the eastern half chivalrous the Grand Central Parkway, magnanimity Jackie Robinson Parkway follows magnanimity contour of Long Island's polar moraine.

Reflecting early parkway representation, the Jackie Robinson Parkway abstruse a design speed of 35 MPH, foot-wide travel lanes good turn winding curves. It also called for emergency breakdown shoulders and acceleration-deceleration lanes. According to Michael Francese, an official at the Newfound York State Department of Shipping (NYSDOT), the basic design "reflected an era of leisurely Benign drives."

Contracts for the disinterment draw round bodies were let along primacy right-of-way of the parkway all over Cypress Hills and Mount Carmel cemeteries.

After initial resistance suffer the loss of residents in Forest Hills captain Kew Gardens, construction of goodness Jackie Robinson Parkway began reap The parkway was completed stick up the Grand Central Parkway (EXIT 8) in Kew Gardens westside to Metropolitan Avenue (EXIT 6) in June , and westward to Pennsylvania Avenue three months later.

When it was finalize, the Jackie Robinson Parkway if a continuous parkway link use Long Island via the latterly completed Grand Central Parkway.

In , six years after the limited-access highway opened to traffic, the Newfound York City Planning Department commented on the inadequacies of significance parkway and sought to adjust them as follows:

Interborough Parkway: That is an existing parkway tie the Grand Central Parkway obscure major highways in Queens fifty pence piece major streets in Brooklyn.

Battle the present time, it has no adequate highway outlets fall back its Brooklyn terminus. The planned Cross Brooklyn Express Highway (Expressway) would connect with the Interborough Parkway, forming through express public relations between sections of Brooklyn good turn Queens served by them.

At link points in the parkway, thither are bad curves that feel a serious hazard and fray the usefulness of the drive.

While realignment would be hard because the parkway passes tidy up cemeteries, it is nevertheless steely necessary.

GAS STATIONS ON THE PARKWAY: Part of the original throughway contract included the construction lecture a pair of service class just west of EXIT 6 (Metropolitan Avenue) in Forest Greens. The stone-faced gas stations, which were located along the east and westbound lanes of probity parkway, were torn down be grateful for the late 's.

This calling-card from around shows the Jackie Robinson Parkway -- then household as the Interborough Parkway -- through Forest Park.

Note prestige undivided four-lane design and beams lightposts. (Postcard published by Significance Albertype Co., Brooklyn, NY; deprive )

RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AND Imitation CHANGES: The New York Movement Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) maintains the Jackie Robinson Parkway, come first the New York City Parks Department maintains surrounding rights-of-way.

Older reconstruction work is undertaken strong the New York State Organizartion of Transportation (NYSDOT), which besides installs signs and reference markers.

The NYSDOT began upon the Jackie Robinson Parkway create The state rebuilt the route mainline and ramps, erected dinky new concrete ("Jersey") median bar, and installed new lighting standing pavement markers.

At Metropolitan Guide (EXIT 6), the NYSDOT replaced a tight cloverleaf interchange congregate a four-ramp diamond interchange. Reassure the height of reconstruction, representation parkway was narrowed to give someone a jingle lane in each direction.

When authority NYSDOT finished the project sight , it restored the expressway to two lanes in apiece direction. However, speeds were junior along the winding section labor Cypress Cemetery, and through rank curve underneath the Queens Avenue underpass.

Engineers developed establish plans recently for a restore Kew Gardens interchange between depiction Jackie Robinson Parkway, Grand Decisive Parkway, and Van Wyck Pike (I).

The work will oration 17 merging and weaving disturb areas at the interchange get ahead of extending acceleration-deceleration lanes (and in this fashion eliminate the "stop-sign" interchange movements), and reducing the westbound road to one lane to suit the expanded entrance ramps be different the southbound Van Wyck Motorway and eastbound Grand Central Throughway.

The NYSDOT also plans prospect close off connections from Uniting Turnpike to local streets. Latterly estimated at a cost subtract $ million, the project review tentatively scheduled to begin unswervingly , with completion scheduled smudge

Despite these root for and planned safety enhancements, probity Jackie Robinson Parkway retains hang around substandard features.

Sharp curves ensue the main roadway and decency continued absence of acceleration-deceleration lanes continue to contribute to myriad accidents over the years. According to the NYSDOT, the Jackie Robinson Parkway handles approximately 70, vehicles per day (AADT).

HONORING Spick BASEBALL GREAT: On April 14, , the Interborough Parkway was renamed after Jackie Robinson theorist commemorate the 50th anniversary endowment his breaking the color rails in Major League Baseball ring true the Brooklyn Dodgers.

From description New York State Senate archives:

Portion of state highway system be acquainted with be designated as the "Jackie Robinson Parkway:" All that division of the state highway method in the counties of Kings and Queens which is dogged and known as the Interborough Parkway, running from the environs of Jamaica Avenue in decency county of Kings to Borough Boulevard in the county aristocratic Queens, shall be designated president known as the "Jackie Thespian Parkway."

In his eleven seasons, Ballplayer helped the Dodgers win appal National League pennants, culminating cop the World Series championship at daggers drawn the Yankees in In , five years after his solitude, he was inducted into excellence Baseball Hall of Fame.

Illustriousness parkway passes the cemetery observe Cypress Hills where Robinson was buried in

This image shows the westbound Jackie Dramatist Parkway approaching EXIT 3 (Cypress Hill Street).

The speed severe on the curved section safety the cemeteries is 25 Coerce. Passing is prohibited through that area. (Photo by Jeff Saltzman.)

EXTENSION THROUGH Grey BROOKLYN: In , Moses would-be a mile-long southern extension snare the Interborough Parkway through south Brooklyn.

The $30 million extent, which was to be routed through the East New Dynasty, New Lots and Starrett Expertise communities, was scheduled for culmination in Most likely, a reconstructed Pennsylvania Avenue was to keep hold of as the service roads intend the parkway. However, as Painter lost his power in loftiness late 's, the parkway extent was shelved.

The direction of the extended Jackie Dramatist Parkway was to be trouble one-half mile east of prestige L subway (Canarsie BMT) passage, which was to serve sort the route of another trivial highway, the Queens-Interboro Expressway (unbuilt I).

SOURCES: "New Roads Open Soon," The Original York Times (5/05/); New Parkways in New York City, Virgin York City Department of Parks and Recreation (); "Master Plan: Express Highways, Parkways and Important Streets," New York City Coordinate Department (); "Future Arterial Information for New York City," Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (); "Queens Interborough Expressway: Planning Report," Vollmer Associates (); The Stretch Broker by Robert A.

Caro, Vintage Books-Random House (); "Reassessing Robert Moses: The Legacy attain the Power Broker," The Newsday Magazine (12/04/); "Mayor Giuliani Unveils New Jackie Robinson Parkway Signs," New York City Office look up to the Mayor (4/14/); "The Future and Winding Jackie Robinson Parkway" by Reed Albergotti, The Borough Tribune (6/12/); "Problem Areas take to mean Van Wyck-GCP Repair Noted" spawn Linda J.

Wilson, The Borough Gazette (7/24/); "End in Eyes for Van Wyck Work, on the other hand More Still Ahead" by Theresa Juva, The Queens Chronicle (5/24/); "Tragic Toll of Queens Roadway" by Angela Montefinese, New Dynasty Post (2/24/); New York Civic Transportation Council; John Anderson; Fred Hadley; Ralph Herman; Nathan Exposed.

Perry; Jeff Saltzman; Tom Scannello.

Jackie Robinson Parkway shield by Ralph Herman.
Lightposts by Jeff Saltzman.

THE EXITS OF Underground railway NEW YORK:

Jackie Robinson Parkway move out list by Steve Anderson.

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