New York City Rental Cars and the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

Escape the bustle of Queens during your upcoming All Car New York City Rental Cars vacation by taking a short road trip to the Rockaway Peninsula. Located across the Jamaica Bay, the Rockaway Peninsula is home to dozens of businesses as well as countless industrial centers. So just how does a curious All Car New York City Rental Cars traveler get across to this unique destination? Well, there's always the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge. A toll bridge between Rockaway and Queens, this bridge allows visitors with quick, convenient access to all of the area's attractions.

Replacing the past with innovative thinking

The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge was built in 1970, replacing the original four-lane drawbridge from 1939. This elementary structure was built by the New York City Parkway Authority and was instrumental in the development of Jamaica Bay as a recreational area. Constructed as a low-level bascule bridge, the original Cross Bay Bridge often caused long traffic jams when it was forced to retract for large shipping traffic. The new bridge is a high level fixed bridge, which allows boats to travel under it without causing any delays.

Features of the new bridge

Customer of All Car New York City Rental Cars will find a number of exciting improvements on the new Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, including six extra-wide lanes of traffic. Spanning nearly 3,000 feet, the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge features a gently arch that provides a permanent 55-foot clearance over the water. There's even a 275 foot span in the bridge's center, providing a 200-foot channel for extra large industrial ships. Customers of All Car New York City Car Rentals will also find ten-foot sidewalks on each shoulder of the bridge. The bridge now carries approximately 20,000 vehicles per day, and is the main link between Rockaway Bay and Queens.

Maintaining a major thoroughfare

July 2007 saw the dawn of a new era on the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge, as construction began on a major restoration project. This program saw more than 3,000 feet of asphalt pavement replaced, as well as the rehabilitations of the bridge's steel superstructure. Customers of All Car New York City Rental Cars will also notice upgrades to the ramps connecting to Beach Channel Drive, as well as new concrete barriers and railings. This expansive project is scheduled to last until 2010 and will cost approximately $57 million to complete.

Interesting facts about the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

  • The Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge is a causeway bridge spanning more than 3,000 feet
  • The clearance above the mean water height is 55 feet
  • More than 1,100 tons of reinforcing can be found in the bridge
  • A staggering amount of concrete was used to build the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge. The sub structure alone boasts 16,200 cubic yards, while the cast in place piles feature 20,200 lineal feet. There is also 43,400 lineal feet in the pre-stressed, as well as 40,500 lineal feet in the pre-stressed girders.

Don't forget to pay the toll

Customers of All Car New York City Rental Cars are expected to pay a $2.50 toll when crossing the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge. In 1997, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced the elimination of the tool for all EZ-Pass customers who were residents of the Rockaways and the communities of Broad Channel. Customers of All Car New York City Rental Cars can also save a little on tolls by purchasing bridge tokens. Tokens are just $1.67 when you by a specified amount.

Driving Directions to the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge

Customers of All Car New York City Rental Cars can access the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge from either Beach Channel Drive or Beach 94th Street in Rockaway. If you're traveling from northern Queens you can use either Cross Bay Boulevard South or the Belt Parkway.

Check out the Brooklyn car rental All Car Rent a Car location at 2686 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210