The Triborough Bridge is actually a series of three bridges that connect Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. Opened in 1936, it was renamed the RFK Bridge in 2008. However, this sign is a lot older than that. The AA Roads website dates a similar sign to 1965, though others have dated back to the bridge's opening. What's weird, though, is this sign is nowhere near that bridge. It is on Rockaway Turnpike in Cedarhurst, NY, in Nassau County near the SE corner of Queens (the Triborough Bridge is in the NW corner of Queens). Apparently it was somewhat common decades ago, before street signage became more standardized, to have signs pointing the way to a prominent location many miles away, as a way to point out the route. Perhaps because this one was located outside of the jurisdiction of the NYC Department of Transportation, it has remained for many decades longer than most others of it's kind.
That sign looks like it's seen some stuff.
ReplyDeleteI just drove over that bridge yesterday! Cool history lesson, Bo. Hopefully the sign stays up there for a long time.
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