New-York tribune., 1913-11-16
BRIDGE PLANS READY
Commissioner 0'Keeffe Pre-
pares Congestion Remedies.
ESTIMATES OF ENGINEERS
Plaza and Reconstruction Work
Suggested for Queens
boro Structure.

completed by Bridge Commissioner
O'Keefe, the purpose of which is to make
the bridge available for the transit SER
vice planned in connection with the dual
rapid transit system. and which will unite
the two boroughs and give through traffic
for one fare. The latter borough is par
ticularly interested because the plans are
necessary for the realization OF the propo-
sition of direct int6rborough commun.-
cation. and Manhattan feels the PROPOSE
ton keenly because the establishment OF
an important traffic centre at the en-
trance to the bridge will result in the tul-
filment of one Of the most important
traffic centres of upper Manhattan.
Property owners in the vicinity of the
bridge i'm Manhattan have long cherished
the idea OF having planned an adequate
entrance TO the Long Island end or the
bridge from Manhattan. Under existing
conditions traffic is constantly congested
because Of the inadequate conditions
there to permit II to flow In its natural
channels The streets there are obviously
too narrow, and automobilists especially,
anu DfutSllldHS do "tli' SNhNi - 'csS -
conveniences because of the inadequate
room there for traffic purposes. The con-
gestion, it is agreed by all those inter-
ested from civic and commercial stand
points. will become intensified In the
future The section in Queens close to
the bridge is now OH the eve of what is
conceded to be one Of the most stupendous
commercial growths in the history of any
municipality. The commercial traffic is
bound TO increase there, as II is now
steadily increasing. but the increase will
he more marked in the future, it is con-
fdently predicted. than even now.
Borough President McAneny has given
considerable attention to the conditions
at that point. After an exhaustive study
OF the subject he has evolved two solu-
tions of the problem. The first Is
the widening of Second avenue be-
tween 59th and 5jth streets to al
ford an approach for traffic on its way
from Manhattan TO Queens, and also the
widening OF Goth street from Fifth ave-
nue to the bridge at Second avenue, or
the creating of a plaza of the block
bounded by Second and Third avenues.
59th and Goth streets. Estimates that
have been made and submitted TO Presi-
dent McAneny have shown that the cost
of each plan would be about the same,
with perhaps the somewhat larger cost
for the first proposition. Even If the first
plan should be adopted. II is seen that the
bridge would still be unsuited to receive
traffic from the proposed subway on 1sth
street and from the elevated lines on
Second avenue. This would entail an ad-
ditional cost OF nearly 100000 to adapt
the bridge to its new use.
Considering the cost Of the latter plan.
the engineering force of the Bridge De-
partment. under Chief Engineer Johnson.
have decided upon the more economical
method They propose TO adopt the
bridge plaza idea. Not only will it be
more economical but il will mean that
the work at the approach Will be COM
pleted in a much shorter time. In con-
sidering the plans the engineers were at
loss To figure out way by which sub
way trains could be carried from the
tubes on J9th street to the bridge and still
maintain this trolley station. With the
plaza laid out as described, II will be pos
sible to carry the trolley cars from
Queens out on the plaza at the street
level and then allow the trains from the
subway to utilize the space now held py
the trolley for getting up on the level OF
the bridge.
There is another advantage that wculd
accrue to residents of Queens in the lat
ter ARRANGEMENT in that IL would give
those who desire TO reach their des-
tination by trolley room to board tue
cars i'm the open instead of In the SUD-
way. The officials i'm the Bridge Depart
ment are convinced that some chanse III
present arrangements must be made III
the near future, for the traiilc mas al
ready reached such proportions at the
Manhattan end during the rush hours that
scenes enacted at the old Brooklyn Bridge
are being enacted here. This desiraole
change will be accomplished when the
trolley cars are br-ught out on the level
OF the proposed plaza.
Land values m the district near the
Manhattan end Of the approach 10 the
bridge are expected TO soar tremendously
and the extension of the plaza, block
at this point will be a decided impetus 10
the commercial welfare of the section.
# is estimated by engineers of the
bridge Department that the cost of ac-
auring the plaza together with the re-
construction of the bridge will be only
81. 900 900. considerably lower than was at
first expected. An application submitted
by Commissioner O'Keeffe for this
amount is now pending before the Board
Of Estimate and Apportlonment what Is
looked upon as favorable 10 those who
are desirous Of seeing the project carried
through without delay is the fact that
the recently elected members of the Board
OF Estimate, Mayor-elect Mitchell. Bor-
ouGh President McAneny. who will take
his seat as President of the Board of Al
dermen; Controller Prendergast and Bor-
ough President Connolly of Queens, are
vitally interested in having the work
insure that il will be done without any
unnecessary delay.
Included among the plans of Commits
sioner O'Keeffe are provisions for d car
rying capacity of l77,0oo persons an hour.
which number can be increased to 100000.
The two upper tracks will be used for
the extension of the Second avenue line
and the four lower tracks will be used
for the subway extensions and the trolley
lines
Rapid progress is being made in Queens
on the elevated extensions. With two
year limit placed upon all this work, and