Rikers Island Bridge, Girder bridge between Queens and The Bronx, United States.
The Rikers Island Bridge is a steel structure spanning Bowery Bay between Queens and The Bronx. It provides three traffic lanes for vehicles and includes a pedestrian walkway for foot traffic.
The structure opened on November 22, 1966, replacing a ferry service that cost New York City around $250,000 annually to operate. This change transformed how the correctional facility on the island could be accessed.
The structure carries the name of Francis R. Buono, the supervising warden who directed its construction and received this recognition in 1978.
The bridge serves as the sole vehicular connection to the island and handles daily traffic from service vehicles and facility personnel. Access for visitors is restricted and subject to security requirements.
The foundation required 260 concrete piles driven up to 124 feet deep, allowing a 52-foot clearance for maritime traffic below. This engineering feat shows the technical challenges of building across the bay.
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