The largest traffic machine ever built isn't just a single bridge

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Most people see the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge as one massive span over New York City's waters. In reality, it is a sprawling complex of three distinct bridges and miles of elevated viaducts designed to function as a singular, interconnected machine for moving millions.

The Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (formerly the Triborough Bridge) serves as a vital transportation artery connecting Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx. While it appears as a unified structure, it is actually a complex system comprising three primary bridges: a suspension bridge over Hell Gate in the East River, a truss bridge over Bronx Kill, and a vertical-lift bridge over the Harlem River. This infrastructure spans several key waterways including the East River. It links major hubs like the FDR Drive and Harlem River Drive in Manhattan.

The latter is notable for being the largest vertical-lift bridge in the world. The engineering of the complex was a massive undertaking conceived in the 1920s and completed in 1936. It features approximately 14 miles of support roads and an elevated highway viaduct that crosses Randalls and Wards Islands—two islands joined by landfill. The project was designed by Allston Dana with input from Aymar Embury II and Othmar Ammann. The viaduct also includes a smaller span over the former Little Hell Gate site.

A grade-separated T-interchange sits on Randalls Island; it was initially built so that motorists would encounter just one set of tollbooths. Due to its size and operational intricacy, observers have termed the construction a "traffic machine" rather than merely a bridge. In 1986, the American Society of Civil Engineers acknowledged this importance by naming the work a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Today, it remains a cornerstone of New York City infrastructure, carrying Interstate 278 and various state routes across significant waterways. Originally, it was operated by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. Electronic systems now handle all tolls at the bridge approaches instead of physical booths.

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