After the split with Interstate 478 (Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel) on Interstate 278 east, the off-ramp for Hamilton Avenue departs the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Hamilton Avenue comprises a frontage street alongside Interstate 278 eastbound between Clinton Street and the Interstate 478 interchange. Hamilton Avenue continues northwest to Van Brunt Street north of the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. Photo taken 10/03/04.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) descends below grade through the neighborhood of South Brooklyn. The six-lane freeway receives an influx of traffic from Interstate 478 southbound as it draws to within one half mile of the Atlantic Avenue interchange of Exit 27. Pictured here is the first Exit 27 overhead attached to the Union Street overpass. Photo taken 10/03/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound continues closer to the East River near the Atlantic Avenue interchange (Exit 27). Atlantic Avenue travels east from the East River piers at Columbia and Furman Streets through South Brooklyn to Crown Heights and Broadway Junction in central Brooklyn. The surface street is a main through route between west Brooklyn and Richmond Hill / Jamaica in Queens. Pictured here is the second to last Exit 27 overhead at Kane Street. Photo taken 10/03/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound jaunts northwest from a parallel alignment along Hicks Street to a course along Furman Street and the East River. Traffic to Atlantic Avenue, Columbia Street, and the Brooklyn Piers 5 through 8 depart the BQE via Exit 27. Photo taken 08/09/04.
A parting shot of the Exit 27 sign bridge partitioning of traffic for Atlantic Avenue eastbound to Crown Heights, Columbia Street southbound to Red Hook, and Brooklyn Piers 5 through 8. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 travels overhead the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and Columbia Street to meet the East River at Furman Street. There northbound motorists are greeted with a striking view of the lower Manhattan skyline of downtown New York City. Interstate 278 also transitions into a double-decked freeway configuration where westbound travels underneath the eastbound lanes. Photo taken 08/09/04.
An upper deck hangs over the eastbound lanes of the BQE to carry the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. For Interstate 278 eastbound motorists, the cityscape remains quite striking with gazes of the famous Brooklyn Bridge available for the traffic weary eyes. Photo taken 10/03/04.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway retains six overall lanes along its alignment adjacent to the Brooklyn Piers and East River. However there are no shoulders and traffic is subjected to lengthy delays when a disabled vehicle or accident arises. Pictured here is the Brooklyn Heights Promenade overhang and a subsequent traffic jam caused by a disabled truck in the center lane ahead (not pictured). Photo taken 08/09/04.
Continuing the cityscape of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge along Interstate 278 (BQE) eastbound. Note the ornamental metal guard rail that lines the left-hand lanes. This style of barrier is present on other segments of the BQE viaduct throughout Brooklyn and Queens. Photos taken 08/09/04 & 10/03/04.
The BQE eastbound emerges from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade at Columbia Heights as a six-lane viaduct. Motorists here split between Interstate 278 eastbound and Exit 28A for Hicks Street to Cadman Plaza West and Old Fulton Street. Photo taken 10/03/04.
Cadman Plaza lies south of Old Fulton Street near the base of the Brooklyn Bridge alongside S Parkes Cadman Plaza in the Brooklyn Heights section of the city. Use Exit 28A for Brooklyn Piers 1 through 5 as well. Photos taken 08/09/04 & 10/03/04.
Continuing beyond the Cadman Plaza West (Exit 28A) off-ramp along Interstate 278 east toward the Brooklyn Bridge westbound approach. The bridge itself comes into Brooklyn just north of the BQE from Lower Manhattan. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Visible behind the Brooklyn Bridge is the Manhattan Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge along with the Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge provide free connections between Brooklyn and Manhattan Island. Photo taken 10/03/04.
A quick look to the west between the buildings of Brooklyn Heights of the Brooklyn Bridge from the eastbound lanes of the BQE. The bridge represents one of the oldest active spans in the United States and one of the most famous. Opened on May 23, 1883, the bridge is a registered as a National Historic Landmark.1 Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound passes underneath the eastern approach of the Brooklyn Bridge ahead of its loop ramp on the span westbound (Exit 28B). The bridge carries BQE eastbound traffic to Centre Street and Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) Drive in Lower Manhattan. The span carries six overall lanes of traffic. Photos taken 08/09/04 & 10/03/04.
Exit 28B departs the BQE for the Brooklyn Bridge northbound into Lower Manhattan. The bridge includes a height restriction for vehicles over 11 feet and is not open to commercial trucks. Traffic also enters the bridge via Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard from Atlantic Avenue northward. In the background is the eastern approach of the Manhattan Bridge. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Eastbound traffic is reduced to two overall lanes between the loop ramps of Exits 28B and 29A for the Manhattan Bridge. The Manhattan Bridge joins Flatbush Boulevard in Brooklyn with the confluence of Canal Street and Broadway at Chinatown in Manhattan. The suspension bridge was once considered a candidate for the Interstate 478 designation. Interstate 478 would apply to the bridge and approaches as the highway would join Interstate 278 (BQE) to the south and the planned Lower Manhattan Expressway (Interstate 78) to the north. The designation appears on maps between 1958 and the 1971 cancellation of Interstate 78 in Lower Manhattan.2 Photo taken 08/09/04.
Exit 29A leaves Interstate 278 eastbound for the Manhattan Bridge northbound. The Manhattan Bridge like its companion nearby is an older East River span opened to traffic on December 31, 1909. The suspension bridge was rehabilitated in the early 2000s and now carries seven-lanes on two-decks and two subway tracks (the B, D, and Q subway lines).2 Photo taken 10/03/04.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway follows the orientation of the East River between the Brooklyn Heights Promenade and City Industrial Park. The freeway loops northeast than southeast before turning east again at the Tillary Street off-ramp (Exit 29B). Tillary Street travels east-west between Clinton Street and Cadman Plaza West to the BQE at Navy Street. Use Exit 29B for the Brooklyn Civic Center and its surrounding area. Photo taken 08/09/04.
A rare Interstate 278 New York shield remains in place after the Tillary Street off-ramp gore point at Exit 29B. There are only three state-named eastbound shields remaining on all of Interstate 278 throughout New York City. This is the first shield found along eastbound. Photos taken 08/09/04 & 10/03/04.
Traffic merging onto the BQE from Tillary Street adds a third lane for Interstate 278 eastbound. From there the six-lane viaduct travels along the split Park Avenue between Navy Street and Steuben Street. Pictured here is the first overhead for Exit 30 to Flushing Avenue. Flushing Avenue continues Nassau Street east from Navy Street along the City Industrial Park area to the north of the BQE. Photo taken 08/09/04.
A second eastbound Interstate 278 New York shield is affixed to the Exit 30 overhead assembly for Flushing Avenue. Note the lack of shoulders and ornamental guard rail found on the BQE section at Brooklyn Heights. Photo taken 08/09/04.
The BQE again turns northward from Park Avenue to parallel Williamsburg Street at the Exit 30 half-diamond interchange with Flushing Avenue. Drivers utilizing Exit 30 from Interstate 278 eastbound merge onto Classon Avenue ahead of its intersection with Flushing Avenue. Use Flushing Avenue west for the City Industrial Park and eastbound for the Bushwick and Ridgewood sections of Brooklyn. Photo taken 08/09/04.
A slip ramp carries northbound travelers from Williamsburg Street onto the BQE eastbound ahead of the Bedford Avenue. Posted at the merge is a neutered eastbound reassurance shield for Interstate 278. Photo taken 10/03/04.
Interstate 278 descends below grade between the Williamsburg Street one-way street couplet between Exits 30 and 32 (Metropolitan Avenue). The forthcoming off-ramp carries motorists onto the adjacent Rodney Street two blocks south of its intersection with Metropolitan Avenue. A series of overpasses cross the BQE ahead starting with Lee Avenue. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Over crossings pass over Interstate 278 drivers fast and furiously ahead of the Exit 32 off-ramp to Rodney Street and Metropolitan Avenue. In view here is S. 9th Street and Broadway as they cross the freeway in the Williamsburg section of the city. Photo taken 08/09/04.
A flyover ramp carries Williamsburg Bridge eastbound traffic onto Interstate 278 eastbound near the ramp departure of Exit 32. Drivers destined for Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge westbound should take Rodney Street north to Metropolitan Avenue west to Rev. Dr. Gardner C. Taylor Boulevard southbound for its ramp onto the bridge. Taylor Boulevard is simply put, the westbound side frontage street of the BQE. It should be noted that the Williamsburg Bridge was touted as part of Interstate 78 between the never built Lower Manhattan Expressway and Bushwick Expressway. Between 1958 and 1971, Interstate 78 appeared on maps along the span.3 Photo taken 08/09/04.
The right-hand lane of Interstate 278 eastbound becomes exit-only for Exit 33. An additional lane however is gained with the advent of traffic from the Williamsburg Bridge eastbound to the left. A half-diamond interchange lies one half mile ahead at the BQE crossing of Humboldt Street near the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound draws near the Exit 33 off-ramp for Humboldt Street. Humboldt Street travels north from Grand Street in Williamsburg to Meeker Avenue and the BQE at McGuinness Boulevard. McGuinness Boulevard continues north from there into Greenpoint. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound elevates again from Metropolitan Avenue northward between Meeker Avenue and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway northbound frontage road. Three through lanes are maintained for eastbound through to the Kings / Queens County line and Borough of Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
The first sign of the Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) junction is posted at the Exit 33 off-ramp to Humboldt Street south and McGuinness Boulevard north. McGuinness Boulevard represents a multi-lane divided surface arterial between Interstate 278 and Jackson Avenue (New York 25A) in Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Eastbound reassurance shield posted at the Exit 33 ramp departure. Although rehabilitated, the Interstate 278 viaduct is still shoulderless as it continues northeast toward the Borough of Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 kinks eastward at Apollo Street alongside Cherry Street to Gardner Avenue and the Newtown Creek crossing. A slip ramp ascends from Cherry Street eastbound onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Note the inclusion of the Triboro Bridge and La Guardia Airport for the BQE connections with the Grand Central Parkway in Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Six lanes of Interstate 278 ascend over the high level Newtown Creek bridge between Brooklyn and Queens. The interchange with Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) exists at the north end of the bridge as Exit 35. The directional cloverleaf carries traffic into Mid-Manhattan via Interstate 495 west to the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The Queens Midtown Tunnel however is not officially acknowledged as part of the Interstate system. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Views of the Newtown Creek (Kosciuszko Bridge) crossing and Manhattan skyline off to the west from the BQE eastbound lanes. Opened in 1939, the 6,021-foot-long span travels 125 feet above the creek below. The steel truss bridge is named after Colonel Thaddeus Kosciuszko, a Revolutionary Army military engineer.4 Incidentally, a pair of arch bridges along Interstate 87 over the Mohawk River also bear his name. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Approaching the Exit 35 off-ramps to Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) on Interstate 278 east. New reflectorized signs replace Manhattan and Riverhead with Midtown Tunnel and Eastern Long Island. Additionally 48th Street is referenced for the off-ramp connection from the Interstate 495 east ramp to 53rd Avenue at 48th Street. Use 48th Street south for the Haberman and Maspeth neighborhoods of Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 ascends to pass over the interchange complex with Interstate 495 at Exit 35. Interstate 495 westbound travelers cut through the Sunnyside section of Queens before descending under the East River via the tolled Queens Midtown Tunnel. Interstate 495 was to continue west from their along the Mid-Manhattan Expressway to the Lincoln Tunnel. From there planned Interstate 495 crosses the Hudson River into Weehaken, Union City, and North Bergen, New Jersey en route to junction Interstate 95 (New Jersey Turnpike). Completed sections of Interstate 495 were redesignated New Jersey 495 & New York 495 after plans for the Mid-Manhattan Expressway were cancelled in 1971. Photo taken 08/09/04.
One-half mile button copy sign for New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) on Interstate 278 (BQE) eastbound at Exit 36. Queens Boulevard represents a major surface arterial between the Queensboro Bridge, Long Island City, Sunnyside, and Woodside to the BQE, Elmhurst, and Jackson Heights. New York 25 remains one of the few signed surface routes through Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway travels along Laurel Hill Boulevard between 58th Street and 65th Place. Ramps to and from New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) utilize Laurel Hill Boulevard southwest from 65th Place to access Interstate 278. 65th Place otherwise travels north from Borden Avenue and Maurice Avenue to Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Exit 36 departs Interstate 278 eastbound after the 61st Street under crossing for Laurel Hill Boulevard eastbound ahead of 65th Place. Drivers bound for New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) westbound utilize 65th Place north. Laurel Hill Boulevard east defaults onto the 67th Street ramp onto Queens Boulevard for eastbound motorists. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 curves northward toward Jackson Heights and Woodside at the Exit 36 ramp. Laurel Hill Boulevard is visible as it intersects 65th Place to the right. New York 25 itself begins at the Queensboro Bridge end in Manhattan to the west and ends at the Queens-Nassau county border along Jericho Turnpike. Photo taken 08/09/04.
The BQE again descends below grade from Queens Boulevard northward to New York 25A (Exit 41). Situated along the depressed freeway is the Exit 37 off-ramp onto Roosevelt Avenue at Jackson Heights. Roosevelt Avenue travels east-west between Long Island City and Woodside to Corona and Flushing. Photo taken 08/09/04.
70th Street and 41st Avenue crisscross Interstate 278 at the Exit 37 ramp departure for Roosevelt Avenue on eastbound. Use Roosevelt Avenue for Broadway east to Elmhurst and northwest to Long Island City and Astoria. Photos taken 08/09/04.
The next interchange for Interstate 278 eastbound motorists is the junction with New York 25A (Northern Boulevard) at Exit 41. Reconstruction and resigning results in the renumbering of Exit 38 to 41. Northern Boulevard carries the New York 25A designation from Jackson Avenue at Long Island City east to Nassau County line at Little Neck. New York 25A provides an alternate route to and from the Queensboro Bridge and the BQE. Astoria Boulevard traffic meanwhile is partitioned between the Brooklyn Queens Expressway West and East branches respectively (Exit 42). Photo taken 08/09/04.
The BQE ascends over 34th avenue at the Exit 41 gore point for New York 25A (Northern Boulevard). New York 25A travels east to East Elmhurst, Shea Stadium, and Flushing from Interstate 278. Northern Boulevard ties into the Grand Central Parkway and Interstate 678 (Whitestone Expressway) near Shea Stadium (home of Major League Baseball's New York Mets). Closed due to construction here is Exit 42 off-ramp for the Brooklyn Queens Expressway East branch to the Grand Central Parkway and Astoria Boulevard eastbound. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Exit 43 leaves Interstate 278 eastbound at the 31st Avenue overpass for 30th Avenue. 30th Avenue stems east from the BQE to the North Beach and East Elmhurst neighborhoods of north Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 follows the Brooklyn Queens Expressway West branch between Exits 42 and 44 (Astoria Boulevard / Grand Central Parkway). The freeway narrows to just four lanes in tight confinement below grade at the Bulova Avenue overpass. Truck traffic bound for the Triboro Bridge and Interstate 278 westbound must exit at Exit 44 for Astoria Boulevard due to a 12'6" height restriction on the ramp ahead. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 merges with the Grand Central Parkway at the end of the West branch of the BQE. From Exit 41 (Astoria Boulevard westbound) to the Triboro Bridge, Interstate 278 follows the Grand Central Parkway. Pictured here is the ramp departure of Exit 41 and the Astoria Boulevard eastbound overcrossing. Astoria Boulevard constitutes the frontage streets of the Grand Central Parkway between 31st Street and 82nd Street at La Guardia Airport. Use Exit 41 for both the Steinway and Astoria neighborhoods of northwest Queens. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 eastbound is relegated to just one lane on the transition from the BQE onto Grand Central Parkway at Astoria. The freeway carries six overall lanes between the West branch of the BQE and the Triborough Bridge at Astoria Park. Exit 3 exists midway between the toll bridge and BQE for Hoyt Avenue as the last departure point in Queens for Interstate 278 east. 44th Street passes over the Grand Central Parkway in this scene. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Exit 3 departs Interstate 278 (Grand Central Parkway) eastbound for Hoyt Avenue and Astoria Park. The exit numbering convention along Interstate 278 between the BQE and the Triborough Bridge is that of the Grand Central Parkway system. The exit otherwise should be Exit 45. Hoyt Avenue comprises the frontage street system of Interstate 278 between Astoria Avenue at 31st Street and 21st Street at Astoria Park itself. Photo taken 08/09/04.
Interstate 278 (Grand Central Parkway) remains below grade on the northwesterly curve toward the Triboro Bridge. 33rd Street passes over the six-lane freeway between the Astoria and Steinway sections of Queens. A construction sign attached to the overpass indicates that all lanes are open for the Triboro Bridge connections to Manhattan and Bronx. Photo taken 08/09/04.
The final entry point onto Interstate 278 eastbound exists in the form of a slip ramp from Hoyt Avenue westbound onto the Grand Central Parkway at 28th Street. A third Interstate 278 New York shield resides at the on-ramp along with a Triborough Bridge guide sign indicating the $4.00 passenger vehicle toll levied to eastbound travelers. Randalls Island is where the three branches of the Triboro Bridge converge ahead. Photo taken 08/09/04.
