Rikers Island Bridge

The Rikers Island Bridge is the sole route to the island for vehicular traffic. The bridge is a fixed low-level span built with concrete and steel. At its center, the bridge has a 52-foot rise allowing clearance for vessels passing beneath the structure. The MTA Bus route operates across the Rikers Island Bridge and provides service to the Rikers Island Visitor Center. The bridge crosses the Rikers Island Channel of the East River and Bowery Bay. It is located near LaGuardia Airport and crosses over the approach light pier to Runway 13. == History ==

Before the bridge opened, the only access to Rikers Island was by a ferry, The bridge was proposed in order to provide easier access by fire, police, ambulances, and sanitation vehicles, and to reduce the commute times for employees. The New York City Planning Board approved the building of the bridge in 1962. New York City spent $10million to build the bridge. On May 25, 1978, the bridge was co-named for the late Supervising Warden Francis R. Buono, who directed its construction. In August 1990, during a labor conflict with then New York City mayor David Dinkins, guards responded to a breakdown in negotiations by barricading access to the bridge. ==References==