New York City is home to 789 bridges and tunnels.
Several agencies manage this network of crossings. The New York City Department of Transportation owns and operates almost 800. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York State Department of Transportation and Amtrak have many others.
Many of the city's major bridges and tunnels have broken or set records. Opened in 1927, the Holland Tunnel was the world's first mechanically ventilated underwater vehicular tunnel. The Brooklyn Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, George Washington Bridge, and Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge were the world's longest suspension bridges when opened in 1883, 1903, 1931, and 1964 respectively.
Bridges
New York City's water crossings date back to 1693, when its first bridge, known as the King's Bridge, was constructed over Spuyten Duyvil Creek between Manhattan and the Bronx, located in the present-day Kingsbridge neighborhood. The bridge, composed of stone abutments and a timber deck, was demolished in 1917. The oldest crossing still standing is High Bridge, built in 1848. This bridge carried the water of the Croton Aqueduct over the Harlem River to the city as part of the Croton Aqueduct system.
Ten bridges and one tunnel serving the city have been awarded some level of landmark status. The Holland Tunnel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993 in recognition of its pioneering role as the first mechanically ventilated vehicular underwater tunnel, operating since 1927. The George Washington, High, Hell Gate, Queensboro, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Macombs Dam, Carroll Street, University Heights, and Washington Bridges have all received landmark status, as well.
New York features bridges of many lengths and types, carrying vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian, and subway traffic. The George Washington Bridge, spanning the Hudson River between New York City and Fort Lee, New Jersey, is the world's busiest bridge in terms of vehicular traffic. The George Washington, Verrazzano–Narrows, and Brooklyn Bridges are noted for their architecture, while others are more well known for their functional importance, such as the Williamsburg Bridge with 8 vehicular lanes, 2 subway tracks, a bike lane, and pedestrian walkways.
Bridges by body of water
East River From south to north:
Name Opening year Length CarriesTollMaintained by Notes Image feet metersCashE-Z Pass Brooklyn Bridge 1883 5 lanes of roadway (2 Manhattan-bound, 3 Brooklyn-bound) NoneNYCDOTOldest suspension bridge in NYC. Also oldest suspension/cable-stayed hybrid bridge. Manhattan Bridge 1909 7 lanes of roadway and NoneNYCDOTDouble-decker bridge with 5 westbound lanes and 2 eastbound lanes. 3 of the westbound lanes and the subway are below the other 4 lanes. Williamsburg Bridge 1903 8 lanes of roadway (4 in each direction) and NoneNYCDOT Queensboro Bridge 1909 9 lanes of NoneNYCDOTOfficially known as the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Also known as 59th Street Bridge.Reversible 4 lanes on the upper deck, and 2 westbound/3 eastbound lanes on the lower deck. Roosevelt Island Bridge 1955 2 lanes of roadway (1 in each direction) NoneNYCDOTEast channel only Triborough Bridge (Suspension Bridge) 1936 8 lanes of (4 in each direction) $12.03$7.46MTA Bridges and TunnelsOfficially known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge Hell Gate Bridge 1916 3 rail tracks (2 of Northeast Corridor, 1 of New York Connecting Railroad) NoneAmtrak Rikers Island Bridge 1966 2 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOTOnly connects Rikers Island to Queens Bronx–Whitestone Bridge 1939 6 lanes of $12.03$7.46MTA Bridges and Tunnels Throgs Neck Bridge 1961 6 lanes of $12.03$7.46MTA Bridges and Tunnels
Harlem River From south to north, east to west: Name Opening year Length CarriesTollMaintained by Notes Image feet metersCashE-Z Pass Wards Island Bridge 1951 Pedestrians and bicycles onlyNoneNYCDOT Triborough Bridge (Vertical-Lift Bridge) 1936 2 lanes of exit ramp from F.D.R. Drive $12.03$7.46MTA Bridges and Tunnels Officially known as the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge Willis Avenue Bridge 1901 4 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOTNorthbound traffic only Third Avenue Bridge 1898 5 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT Southbound traffic only Harlem River Lift Bridge 1956 4 tracks of Metro-North NoneMTA Metro-North Railroad Madison Avenue Bridge 1910 4 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT 145th Street Bridge 1905 4 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT Macombs Dam Bridge 1895 4 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT High Bridge 1848 Pedestrian walkway and bicycle lanes NoneNYC Parks Oldest surviving bridge in New York City Alexander Hamilton Bridge 1963 8 lanes of and NoneNYSDOT Washington Bridge 1888 6 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT University Heights Bridge 1908 2 lanes of roadway NoneNYCDOT Broadway Bridge 1962 4 lanes of Broadway/ and the NoneNYCDOTAlso known as Harlem Ship Canal Bridge Henry Hudson Bridge 1936 6 lanes of $8.87$3.42MTA Bridges and TunnelsDouble-decked bridge Spuyten Duyvil Bridge 1899 1 track of Empire CorridorNoneAmtrakSwing bridge
Hudson River Name Opening year Length CarriesTollMaintained by Comments Photo feet metersCashE-ZPass George Washington Bridge 1931 14 lanes of $23.30$16.79PANYNJ Double-deck, 8 lanes on upper level, 6 lanes on lower level. 7 lanes in each direction. Tolls collected in eastbound direction only.
New York Bay Name Opening year Length CarriesTollMaintained by Comments Photo feet metersCashE-ZPass Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge 1964 13 lanes of $12.03$7.46MTA Bridges and Tunnels Double-deck, 7 lanes on upper level; 3 in each direction and 1 reversible HOV 3+ lane. 6 lanes on lower level; three in each direction.
Arthur Kill +NameOpening yearLengthCarriesTollMaintained byCommentsCashE-Z PassGoethals Bridge20182225.04 m6 lanes of $23.30$16.79PANYNJReplaced the old Goethals Bridge (completed 1928); the two new spans are a cable-stayed design. Tolls collected in the eastbound direction onlyArthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge1959170.08 mCSX and M&E rail linesNoneConrailOuterbridge Crossing19283093 m4 lanes of ; $23.30$16.79PANYNJTolls collected in the eastbound direction only.
Kill Van Kull +NameOpening yearLengthCarriesTollMaintained byCommentsCashE-Z PassBayonne Bridge19311761.74 m4 lanes of ; $23.30$16.79PANYNJRaised and rebuilt in 2019. Tolls collected in the southbound direction only
Newtown Creek
Name Opening year Length CarriesTollMaintained by Comments Image feet meters Kosciuszko Bridge 2017, 2019 6 lanes of NoneNYSDOT Eastbound span opened in April 2017, and westbound span opened in August 2019. It replaces the original bridge Pulaski Bridge 1954 6 lanes of McGuinness Boulevard NoneNYCDOT Drawbridge Greenpoint Avenue Bridge 1987 4 lanes of Greenpoint Avenue NoneNYCDOTa.k.a. J. J. Byrne Memorial BridgeDrawbridge Grand Street Bridge 1903 1 lane of Grand Avenue NoneNYCDOTSwing bridge; one-lane bridge Metropolitan Avenue Bridge 1933 4 lanes of Grand Street and Metropolitan Avenue NoneNYCDOTDrawbridge; Crosses English Kills, a tributary of Newtown Creek
Other
The Bronx Name Opening year Length Carries CommentsBronx Kill Robert F. Kennedy Bridge 1936 8 lanes of Formerly known as the Triborough BridgeHutchinson River (heading downriver) Eastchester Bridge 1926 0.4 miles 4 lanes of Boston Road () I-95 bridge 1961 5,280 feet 6 lanes of Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge 1941 6 lanes of Drawbridge Pelham Bay Bridge 1908 Northeast Corridor (Amtrak) Also called Amtrak Pelham Bay Bridge Pelham Bridge 1908 4 lanes of Shore Road DrawbridgeWestchester Creek Unionport Bridge 1953 7 lanes of Bronx River Eastern Boulevard Bridge 1953 DrawbridgeEastchester Bay City Island Bridge 1901 3 lanes of City Island Avenue
Brooklyn Name Opening year Length Carries Comments ImageGowanus Canal Union Street Bridge 1905 600 feet 2 lanes of Union Street Drawbridge Carroll Street Bridge 1889 300 feet 2 lanes of Carroll Street New York City Designated Landmark and one of four retractable bridges in the country Third Street Bridge 1905 350 feet Third Street Ninth Street Bridge 1999 700 feet Ninth Street Vertical Lift Bridge Culver Viaduct 1933 0.6 miles passes over the Ninth Street Bridge, carrying 4 tracks, 2 express and 2 local Hamilton Avenue Bridge 1942 0.7 miles Hamilton Avenue passes under the Gowanus Expressway and carries four lanes of traffic in each direction Gowanus Expressway 1941 9 lanes of Mill Basin Mill Basin Bridge2017 6 lanes of The bridge has a combined bicycle and pedestrian pathway on the eastbound side of the bridge which carries the Jamaica Bay GreenwayMill Basin Drawbridge (demolished)1940825 ft6 lanes of Twin-leaf bascule bridge; demolished in 2018 and replaced by Mill Basin BridgeRockaway Inlet (Brooklyn and Queens) Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge 1937 1226 m 4 lanes of Flatbush Avenue also has a narrow combined bicycle and pedestrian path on the southbound side of the bridge
Queens Name Opening year Length Carries Comments ImageDutch Kills Borden Avenue Bridge 1908 100 feet 2 lanes of Borden Avenue One of four retractable bridges in the country Hunters Point Avenue Bridge 1910 500 feet Hunters Point Avenue Cabin M Bridge1 track of the Montauk CutoffThere is another abandoned track on the bridgeDB Cabin Bridge1 track of the Montauk BranchThe bridge was originally built to carry three tracksJamaica Bay Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge 1970 0.7 miles 6 lanes Cross Bay Boulevard Joseph P. Addabbo Memorial Bridge 1971 0.7 miles 6 lanes of Cross Bay Boulevard North Channel Swing Bridge Not actually a movable bridge.Howard Beach to Broad Channel. Beach Channel Drawbridge Broad Channel to The Rockaways 102nd Street Bridge Connecting Hamilton Beach at Russell Street with Howard Beach, also known as "Lenihan's Bridge". Hawtree Creek Bridge 163rd Avenue and 99th Street in Howard Beach across to Hamilton Beach at Rau Court and Davenport Court Also known as "Joel Miele Sr. Bridge".Rockaway Inlet (Brooklyn and Queens) Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge 1937 1226 m 4 lanes of Flatbush Avenue
Tunnels Each of the tunnels that run underneath the East and Hudson Rivers were marvels of engineering when first constructed. The Holland Tunnel is the oldest of the vehicular tunnels, opening to great fanfare in 1927 as the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel. The Queens Midtown Tunnel was opened in 1940 to relieve the congestion on the city's bridges. Each of its tubes were designed wider than the Holland Tunnel in order to accommodate the wider cars of the period. When the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel opened in 1950, it was the longest continuous underwater vehicular tunnel in North America, a title it still holds. The Lincoln Tunnel has three tubes linking midtown Manhattan to New Jersey, a configuration that provides the flexibility to provide four lanes in one direction during rush hours, or three lanes in both direction.
All four underwater road tunnels were built by Ole Singstad: the Holland Tunnel's original chief engineer Clifford Milburn Holland died, as did his successor, Milton H. Freeman, after which Singstad became chief engineer, finishing the Holland Tunnel and then building the remaining tunnels.
East River From south to north: