Rikers Island Bridge

Photos

Bridge from Queens abutment

Ret. Asst. Chief Pagan Collection Page #1 Photo E: Riker's Buono Bridge, Queens abutment lot. "In January 2003 when I was Warden of SOD, the Port Authority Airborne Services Unit, graciously took me up in a PAPD helicopter, so I could view Riker's Island from the air. While up, I took this and other aerial photos."

retired NYC DOC Assistant Chief Richard Pagan in January 2003

View this photo at correctionhistory.org

BH Photo #351692

Map

Maps and Databases

Description

Bridge connecting Rikers Island prison complex to Queens, near LaGuardia Airport. It is the only vehicular connection to Rikers Island, replacing a previous ferry. Rikers Island is in The Bronx, so the bridge crosses the county line from Queens. Considering the facility served, crossing this bridge in either direction could be very emotional, resulting in its nickname "Bridge of Pain".

Facts

Overview: Steel stringer bridge over East River on Hazen Street
Location: New York City, Queens County, New York, and Bronx County, New York
Status: Open to traffic, posted for load
History: Built 1966. Site of prison guards' strike blockade 1990. Reconstructed 2007.
Builders: - Brookfield Construction Co.
- Madigan-Hyland of New York, New York
- Moore-Lopier Corp.
Design: Steel stringer, rising to 52' clearance over water at center. 3 lanes of roadway plus walkway.
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 203.8 ft.
Total length: 4,236.1 ft. (0.8 mi.)
Deck width: 34.1 ft.
Also called: Francis R. Buono Memorial Bridge
Bridge of Pain
Approximate latitude, longitude: +40.78165, -73.88851 (decimal degrees)
40°46'54" N, 73°53'19" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates: 18/593786/4515112 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:: Central Park
Elevation: 52 ft. above sea level
Average daily traffic (as of 2018): 11,638
Inventory numbers: NY 2240660 (New York State bridge identification number)
BH 71851 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection report (as of October 2018): Overall condition: Fair
Superstructure condition rating: Satisfactory (6 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 49 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com

Update Log

April 9, 2022: Updated by Roger Deschner: Merged NBI data
April 17, 2016: Added by Roger Deschner

Sources

Roger Deschner - rogerdeschner [at] gmail [dot] com
Rikers Island Bridge at Wikipedia
Francis R. Buono Memorial Bridge at Structurae
Rikers Island at Wikipedia - Description of the island and the facilities thereon, served by this bridge