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The Bridge with Three Names

Edgy DC Mar 24 2011 07:11 AM

The Queensborough Bridge, also known (and immortalized in song) as The 59th Street Bridge, and known to cheapskates like me as the only free way to get from Queens to Manhattan, will be renamed The Ed Koch Queensborough Bridge.

metirish Mar 24 2011 07:15 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Yeah , not to hot on the name change , nothing against Koch who I rather like but it's the 59th street bridge man. It holds fond memories for me , when I lived in Sunnyside/Woodside I took that bridge many nights and always marveled at it's beauty and views.

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2011 07:17 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

And it will be called that by NOBODY! Sixty years later and it's still '6th Avenue' to almost everyone even though the majority of NYers have either moved in or been born since the change to 'Avenue of the Americas'.

Edgy DC Mar 24 2011 07:20 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Films featuring the Queensborough/59th Street Bridge in prominent roles: [list][*]Turk-182[/*:m] [*]Spider-Man[/*:m] [*]Escape from New York[/*:m] [*]Nighthawks.[/*:m][/list:u]

The Second Spitter Mar 24 2011 07:21 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Frayed Knot wrote: And it will be called that by NOBODY! Sixty years later and it's still '6th Avenue' to almost everyone even though the majority of NYers have either moved in or been born since the change to 'Avenue of the Americas'. Similarly it's still known as the West Side Highway rather than Guiliani's MFY worshipping rebranding.

The Second Spitter Mar 24 2011 07:23 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Films featuring the Queensborough/59th Street Bridge in prominent roles: [list][*]Turk-182[/*:m] [*]Spider-Man[/*:m] [*]Escape from New York[/*:m] [*]Nighthawks.[/*:m][/list:u] Manhatten?

metirish Mar 24 2011 07:26 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Frayed Knot wrote: And it will be called that by NOBODY! Sixty years later and it's still '6th Avenue' to almost everyone even though the majority of NYers have either moved in or been born since the change to 'Avenue of the Americas'. true....who calls the Triborough Bridge RFK?, although the traffic people call it RFK.

Benjamin Grimm Mar 24 2011 07:29 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Has the new name for the Interboro stuck?

Willets Point Mar 24 2011 07:34 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I drove to NY a couple of years ago and saw all these signs for the RFK Bridge and had no idea what bridge it was talking about until we were actually on it. Completely mystified why they would rename a bridge 80 years or so after it was built and 40 years after RFK's assassination. What is the Yankee name of the West Side Highway? The Jeter Path To Glory? George Steinbrenner's My Way or the Highway?

themetfairy Mar 24 2011 07:36 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Willets Point wrote: I drove to NY a couple of years ago and saw all these signs for the RFK Bridge and had no idea what bridge it was talking about until we were actually on it. Completely mystified why they would rename a bridge 80 years or so after it was built and 40 years after RFK's assassination. What is the Yankee name of the West Side Highway? The Jeter Path To Glory? George Steinbrenner's My Way or the Highway? Dammit Willets - don't give them any ideas!

The Second Spitter Mar 24 2011 07:37 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I once heard a British man ask a taxi driver to take him to Idlewild Airport and the taxi driver had NFI.

HahnSolo Mar 24 2011 07:53 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Films featuring the Queensborough/59th Street Bridge in prominent roles: [list][*]Turk-182[/*:m] [*]Spider-Man[/*:m] [*]Escape from New York[/*:m] [*]Nighthawks.[/*:m][/list:u] Also featured prominently in the credits for All in the Family.

MFS62 Mar 24 2011 07:57 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Frayed Knot wrote: And it will be called that by NOBODY! Sixty years later and it's still '6th Avenue' to almost everyone even though the majority of NYers have either moved in or been born since the change to 'Avenue of the Americas'. I grew up in upper Manhattan and my grandparents lived at 116th street and Lenox Avenue. A few years ago, I got detoured off the West Side Highway because of an accident and ended up on a street called "Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard" and didn't know where the fuck I was. Later

G-Fafif Mar 24 2011 07:58 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 24 2011 07:59 AM

[youtube:2li8i7f9]U9QscGB9LV4[/youtube:2li8i7f9]

Edgy DC Mar 24 2011 07:58 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Bam!

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2011 08:08 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Has the new name for the Interboro stuck? Much more so, yes, although maybe long-time locals who are the ones who probably use it most of the time still stick to the old name. Re: RFK bridge -- When a bridge already has an iconic and descriptive name, renaming it for a guy who barely lived here and was only Senator for about 20 minutes is a really bad idea. But hey, he was part of ... wait for it ... American Royalty

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2011 08:57 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Willets Point wrote: I drove to NY a couple of years ago and saw all these signs for the RFK Bridge and had no idea what bridge it was talking about until we were actually on it. Completely mystified why they would rename a bridge 80 years or so after it was built and 40 years after RFK's assassination. What is the Yankee name of the West Side Highway? The Jeter Path To Glory? George Steinbrenner's My Way or the Highway? It's partially Dimaggio. I think I wouldn't mind if it became something a little more familiar, more suited to the spirit of Mayor How'm I Doin'. Like, say, the "Eddie."

TheOldMole Mar 24 2011 10:41 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Do you suppose Ed is feeling groovy? People do call Idlewild JFK.

metsmarathon Mar 24 2011 11:13 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

ugh. i hate that bridge.

Edgy DC Mar 24 2011 11:18 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

The Ed Koch Bridge was the Queensoborugh Bridgie Now it's called Ed Koch, not the Queensoborugh Bridgie They had a great big show, with Melissa Eth'ridgie Now it's got a third name, the City Council to blame Now ev'ry gal in who lives in Queens Borough Will be kind of pissed; their brows they will furrow So if you've a date with a girl from Queens Borough Don't call it the Ed Koch Bridge Even JFK Was once called Idlewild Why'd they change it? Who's to blame? People go nuts for the Kennedy name! So take me back to the Queensborugh Bridgie No, you can't go back to the Queensborugh Bridgie You might give two shits if you live in Bay Ridgie Why'd the Queensborough Bridgie change it's name? It's that damned City Council that's to blame! Queensbourogh! (Queensbourogh!) Ohhhhhh! Ohh-Ohh-Ohhhhh! Queensbourogh! (Queensbourogh!) Even dear, sweet Shea Was Flushing Meadows Park Why they changed it I can't say People just fuckin' loved Bill Shea! The Ed Koch Bridge was the Queensborough Bridgie I never paid a dime for the Queensborugh Bridgie And it was never bombed, with thanks to Tom Ridgie Why did the Queensborough Bridgie change it's name? It's that damned City Council that's to blame! The Ed Koch Bridge was the Queensborough Bridgie Paul and Art felt groovy on the Queensborough Bridgie Been a friend to all, of every religie Why'd the Queensborough Bridgie change it's name? It's that damned City Council that's to blame!

Ceetar Mar 24 2011 12:19 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I've always called it the Queensboro, and I'll just leave off Koch from now on anyway. (Isn't the Williamsburg free as well? it is. Guess that's Brooklyn, but when you're coming from, or going to, LI one's as good as the other. the DiMaggio and Avenue of the Americas are only silly little secondary type names and only for part of the roads. Most of the those avenues apparently have 'other' names though they're not as advertised. Then there are all the blocks memorialized with fallen nypd/fdny peoples. Triboro makes so much more sense, but I've sorta been interchanging with RFK a bit when I talk about it. I'd call it the Derek Jeter bridge if they'd fix the potholes.. It's one of my most common Hudson crossings though, I think there's a big outdoor structure that the highway on the otherside takes you to. It's kinda fun, you should check it out. Interboro/Jackie has been forever now. I don't think I remember it not being JR. I also don't think I canremember the last time i was on it. Things are getting a little too acronymed though. My trip is 208->4->GWB->FDR->RFK->GCP to get to games.

TheOldMole Mar 24 2011 12:21 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Edgy - that's great.

seawolf17 Mar 24 2011 12:23 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I call the Jackie the Jackie, because our friends who live right off it moved there a few years ago, and that was my first (terrifying) experience with it. I've never known it as the Interboro. Same deal with the A of A; my dad worked on that street for many years, and so I always know it as that. I'm suburban like that.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr Mar 24 2011 01:06 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Sweet stuff, Edge.

Chad Ochoseis Mar 24 2011 01:22 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I still call it the Interboro. I left for college in 1982 and didn't move back until 2000, and I had to look on a map to figure out what they were talking about the first time I heard "Jackie Robinson Parkway". Then again, I still call the 4 train the Lexington Avenue IRT.

Frayed Knot Mar 24 2011 01:29 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

seawolf17 wrote: Same deal with the A of A; my dad worked on that street for many years, and so I always know it as that. I'm suburban like that. I worked on A-of-A for several years and still call it 6th Ave, and I can assure you if you address mail that way it'll get there.

Willets Point Mar 24 2011 01:31 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I still call the city New Amsterdam.

seawolf17 Mar 24 2011 01:45 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Frayed Knot wrote: seawolf17 wrote: Same deal with the A of A; my dad worked on that street for many years, and so I always know it as that. I'm suburban like that. I worked on A-of-A for several years and still call it 6th Ave, and I can assure you if you address mail that way it'll get there. Dad?

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 24 2011 01:53 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Sweet stuff, Edge. I'm not hearing the song in my head

Chad Ochoseis Mar 24 2011 01:56 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

[youtube:39h7si1m]EnctFERAC5Y[/youtube:39h7si1m] Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Willets Point Mar 24 2011 01:56 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Sweet stuff, Edge. I'm not hearing the song in my head [youtube]vankaSlfSr0[/youtube]

John Cougar Lunchbucket Mar 24 2011 02:02 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Thanks to Tom Ridgie

TheOldMole Mar 24 2011 07:02 PM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Why did 59th Street get the works? That's nobody's business but New York's.

Edgy DC Oct 14 2011 08:04 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

WSJ: Momentum failing to catch on renames.

Ceetar Oct 14 2011 08:20 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

WSJ: Momentum failing to catch on renames. Queensboro wasn't even 'renamed' just appended. Why would anyone suddenly start adding the Koch part? 3-4 years isn't a long time either. They haven't even changed all the RFK/Triboro signs. Imagine taking a road trip to catch your first game at Citi Field. Someone tells you to take the Grand Central to the RFK. You get on and watch the signs..Whitestone, no, that's not it, Triboro? Where's that go? Where's the RFK?

MFS62 Oct 14 2011 08:26 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

The only name change around the city that has, from my pov, totally caught on, was the renaming of Idlewild airport JFK. Later

Gwreck Oct 14 2011 08:31 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

I've found that the Jackie Robinson parkway name has caught on well (it's been about 15 years now).

Benjamin Grimm Oct 14 2011 08:43 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

MFS62 wrote: The only name change around the city that has, from my pov, totally caught on, was the renaming of Idlewild airport JFK. The new names for Bedloe's Island and Welfare Island seem to have caught on. (Roosevelt Island and Liberty Island.)

Edgy DC Oct 14 2011 08:44 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Reagan National Airport has sort of caught on also, even though everyone around here spits when they say it. Because, let's just face it, it's about legislative parties abusing their majorities to shore up their base by elevating the stature of their ancestors. Little appreciated fact: In 1964, the New York Legislature renamed the New York State Thruway in honor of Thomas E. Dewey, the governor at the time of its opening. (I must assume Republicans controlled both houses then.) Dewey was very much still alive at the time, but the name still hasn't really caught on. Lesser-known fact: The Tappan Zee was renamed in 1994 for Malcolm Wilson, who was governor for about thirty minutes. I think a section of the Thruway was also renamed for Charles Poletti, who was governor for about thirty seconds.

Ceetar Oct 14 2011 08:45 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Gwreck wrote: I've found that the Jackie Robinson parkway name has caught on well (it's been about 15 years now). yeah, 10-15 years tends to get things done, when all the signs, call symbols and news traffic updates are beating it into your brain. I don't remember it ever being Idlewild, or Interboro. I'd never heard of Bedloe or Welfare.

Edgy DC Oct 14 2011 08:49 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Yeah, but the (Malcolm Wilson) Tappan Zee Bridge and the (Thomas E. Dewey) NYS Thruway haven't caught on after 17 and 47 years, respectively.

Ceetar Oct 14 2011 08:54 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, but the (Malcolm Wilson) Tappan Zee Bridge and the (Thomas E. Dewey) NYS Thruway haven't caught on after 17 and 47 years, respectively. Why don't people refer to the Tappan Zee as the Malcolm Wilson? The signs don't even say it right? Referring to the Thruway as the "Dewey" seems weird. and calling it the "Dewey Thruway" is just unecessary. I wonder if GPSs will make some of these things easier to adopt. "Merge onto i87 towards the Malcolm Wilson Bridge. Keep left at the fork."

Frayed Knot Oct 14 2011 10:20 AM Re: The Bridge with Three Names

Edgy DC wrote: Reagan National Airport has sort of caught on also, even though everyone around here spits when they say it. The early days of that name change were fun as signing changes were slow (intentionally so according to some) and other reports surfaced of federal workers - even ones in customer service areas - refusing to acknowledge that there was such an airport lest they be forced to utter the name. Because, let's just face it, it's about legislative parties abusing their majorities to shore up their base by elevating the stature of their ancestors. I guess the left got their revenge by the recent re-naming of BWI as Thurgood Marshall Airport. Changeover there seems to be slow although it seems like I'm increasingly hearing it referred to as BWI-Marshall which, like Reagan-National (as opposed to just Reagan Airport), incorporates the old and the new and helps eliminates confusion.