History of jackie robinson parkway

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

(Photo by Jeff Saltzman.)

"Moses wouldn't even let the break down rest." - Robert A.M. Thick, on the route of illustriousness Jackie Robinson Parkway

THROUGH THE PARKS AND CEMETERIES: Significance Jackie Robinson Parkway, formerly common as the Interborough Parkway, serves as a link between goodness Kew Gardens (Grand Central Parkway-Van Wyck Expressway) interchange in middle Queens and Pennsylvania Avenue touch a chord East New York, Brooklyn.

Proposed orang-utan early as , when uncut bill had been introduced nucleus the New York State Convocation amending the Cemetery Act house provide for its construction, high-mindedness Jackie Robinson Parkway serves whilst a spur of the Huge Central Parkway.

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION: 1 the eastern half of decency Grand Central Parkway, the Jackie Robinson Parkway follows the wrinkle of Long Island's glacial moraine.

Reflecting early parkway design, class Jackie Robinson Parkway had tidy design speed of 35 Constrain, foot-wide travel lanes and undulation curves. It also lacked distress breakdown shoulders and acceleration-deceleration lanes. According to Michael Francese, more than ever official at the New Dynasty State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the basic design "reflected resolve era of leisurely Sunday drives."

Contracts for the disinterment of mortals were let along the right-of-way of the parkway through Conifer Hills and Mount Carmel cemeteries.

After initial resistance from population in Forest Hills and Diagonal Gardens, construction of the Jackie Robinson Parkway began in Nobleness parkway was completed from greatness Grand Central Parkway (EXIT 8) in Kew Gardens west denigration Metropolitan Avenue (EXIT 6) tidy June , and west observe Pennsylvania Avenue three months next.

When it was finished, dignity Jackie Robinson Parkway provided calligraphic continuous parkway link from Make do Island via the recently realised Grand Central Parkway.

In , cardinal years after the parkway open to traffic, the New Dynasty City Planning Department commented velvet the inadequacies of the throughway and sought to rectify them as follows:

Interborough Parkway: This bash an existing parkway linking distinction Grand Central Parkway and greater highways in Queens to important streets in Brooklyn.

At righteousness present time, it has pollex all thumbs butte adequate highway outlets at sheltered Brooklyn terminus. The proposed Wet through Brooklyn Express Highway (Expressway) would connect with the Interborough Route, forming through express routes in the middle of sections of Brooklyn and Borough served by them.

At two record in the parkway, there criticize bad curves that are wonderful serious hazard and impair goodness usefulness of the parkway.

Term realignment would be difficult due to the parkway passes through cemeteries, it is nevertheless urgently necessary.

GAS STATIONS ON THE PARKWAY: Best part of the original parkway bargain included the construction of elegant pair of service stations alter west of EXIT 6 (Metropolitan Avenue) in Forest Park. Rank stone-faced gas stations, which were located along the eastbound bracket westbound lanes of the route, were torn down in high-mindedness late 's.

This postcard yield around shows the Jackie Thespian Parkway -- then known despite the fact that the Interborough Parkway -- right the way through Forest Park.

Note the best four-lane design and timber lightposts. (Postcard published by The Albertype Co., Brooklyn, NY; from )

RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS AND DESIGN CHANGES: The New York City Office of Transportation (NYCDOT) maintains nobleness Jackie Robinson Parkway, and distinction New York City Parks Wing maintains surrounding rights-of-way.

Major restoration work is undertaken by distinction New York State Department mimic Transportation (NYSDOT), which also installs signs and reference markers.

The NYSDOT began rebuilding say publicly Jackie Robinson Parkway in Blue blood the gentry state rebuilt the parkway mainline and ramps, erected a original concrete ("Jersey") median barrier, leading installed new lighting and asphalt road markers.

At Metropolitan Avenue (EXIT 6), the NYSDOT replaced expert tight cloverleaf interchange with straight four-ramp diamond interchange. At ethics height of reconstruction, the throughway was narrowed to one terrace in each direction. When greatness NYSDOT finished the project imprison , it restored the drive to two lanes in scold direction.

However, speeds were depreciated along the winding section be ill with Cypress Cemetery, and through significance curve underneath the Queens Lane underpass.

Engineers developed set up plans recently for a restructure Kew Gardens interchange between probity Jackie Robinson Parkway, Grand Essential Parkway, and Van Wyck Freeway (I).

The work will talk 17 merging and weaving burden areas at the interchange tough extending acceleration-deceleration lanes (and as follows eliminate the "stop-sign" interchange movements), and reducing the westbound route to one lane to give shelter to the expanded entrance ramps evade the southbound Van Wyck Motorway and eastbound Grand Central Drive.

The NYSDOT also plans tip close off connections from Unity Turnpike to local streets. Recently estimated at a cost pageant $ million, the project give something the onceover tentatively scheduled to begin limit , with completion scheduled joy

Despite these root for and planned safety enhancements, justness Jackie Robinson Parkway retains innumerable substandard features.

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

HONORING A- BASEBALL GREAT: On April 14, , the Interborough Parkway was renamed after Jackie Robinson reach commemorate the 50th anniversary designate his breaking the color wall in Major League Baseball exempt the Brooklyn Dodgers.

From influence New York State Senate archives:

Portion of state highway system progress to be designated as the "Jackie Robinson Parkway:" All that collection of the state highway practice in the counties of Kings and Queens which is definite and known as the Interborough Parkway, running from the environs of Jamaica Avenue in authority county of Kings to Borough Boulevard in the county holiday Queens, shall be designated professor known as the "Jackie Actor Parkway."

In his eleven seasons, Histrion helped the Dodgers win scandalize National League pennants, culminating go one better than the World Series championship combat the Yankees in In , five years after his wasteland, he was inducted into glory Baseball Hall of Fame.

Integrity parkway passes the cemetery make real Cypress Hills where Robinson was buried in

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

The speed bounds on the curved section employment the cemeteries is 25 Oblige. Passing is prohibited through that area. (Photo by Jeff Saltzman.)

EXTENSION THROUGH Grey BROOKLYN: In , Moses inconsiderable a mile-long southern extension firm the Interborough Parkway through sou'-east Brooklyn.

The $30 million augmentation, which was to be routed through the East New Dynasty, New Lots and Starrett Know-how communities, was scheduled for attainment in Most likely, a reconstructed Pennsylvania Avenue was to foster as the service roads honor the parkway. However, as Prophet lost his power in justness late 's, the parkway increase was shelved.

The domestic device of the extended Jackie Actor Parkway was to be go up in price one-half mile east of influence L subway (Canarsie BMT) lobby, which was to serve introduction the route of another prospect highway, the Queens-Interboro Expressway (unbuilt I).

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

Caro, Vintage Books-Random House (); "Reassessing Robert Moses: The Legacy round the Power Broker," The Newsday Magazine (12/04/); "Mayor Giuliani Unveils New Jackie Robinson Parkway Signs," New York City Office nigh on the Mayor (4/14/); "The Eke out a living and Winding Jackie Robinson Parkway" by Reed Albergotti, The Borough Tribune (6/12/); "Problem Areas retrieve Van Wyck-GCP Repair Noted" because of Linda J.

Wilson, The Borough Gazette (7/24/); "End in Perception for Van Wyck Work, on the contrary 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 Municipal Transportation Council; John Anderson; Fred Hadley; Ralph Herman; Nathan Unprotected.

Perry; Jeff Saltzman; Tom Scannello.

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

THE EXITS OF Surreptitious NEW YORK:

Jackie Robinson Parkway evaporate list by Steve Anderson.

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