LMARS - New York

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An Englishman in New York
Photographs from my first ever trip to the US of A!

Everyone knows about New York City. It's the iconic mental image of the USA - the lights of Broadway, the horses and traps in Central Park, and of course the scene of the biggest tragedy on American soil, September 11, 2001.

In February 2006, I was lucky enough to get to visit this fine city myself with my college's Law Class. Obviously I went armed with my digital camera and batteries, and the result was a mere 850 photographs from 4 days. I obviously have whittled this down to my best collection, yet this is still 172 photographs in size.

The best of those 172 photographs will be on display on this page.

From JFK Airport to Midtown Manhattan
via JFK Expwy, I-678, I-495, Queen's Blvd/Queensboro Bridge, and 57th Street.

	Exiting from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on the JFK Expressway, roadworks greet traffic to the area. It's almost like being at home!
	After the merge with the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678), everyone is shunted onto a small collector lane section, which has this sign set-up. American freeway (expressways in the New York area) are always signed in green. Notice the centred Exit tab, this is somewhat of a North East design - Connecticut uses this style too. The sign on the left is fully reflectorised but the right hand sign uses button copy lettering.
	A typical route confirmation shield, showing general direction and route number. This is a "neutered" interstate shield, as it does use the State name (in this case, New York). The large viaduct down the central reservation (median!) is the JFK Airport AirTrain, connecting to the suburb of Jamaica.
	This photo shows typical Van Wyck congestion. The commuter information sign is designed to help travellers find alternative routes and information on the congestion around the Big Apple.
	A gantry for Liberty Avenue (exit 4) on the Van Wyck. Wyck is pronounced "WIKE" not "WICK", for what it's worth.
	Another gantry, for exit 5, Atlantic Avenue. The congestion here was primarily due to bridge strengthening works.
	Here's the aforementioned roadworks. Interesting way of signing it. The speed limit of 35mph is quite modest, but the expressway has a standard speed limit of 50, so it's not as bad as first seems.
	A left exit here, for the Grand Central Parkway. The notorious "Boulevard of Death" also intersects the Van Wyck here. New York City Parkways usually prohibit any HGV traffic.
	The diverge between the Grand Central and Van Wyck. The flyover for I-678 is amazingly narrow and bumpy!
	At the I-495 interchange, the dreaded Long Island Expressway takes traffic between eastern Long Island and Manhattan via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
	Merging onto the Long Island Expressway towards Manhattan, it becomes a vast expanse of lanes.
	There are even more lanes here - and further along the road becomes double decked, with local traffic underneath!
	At the interchange with the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (I-278), the LIE continues ahead towards the Midtown Tunnel.
	Despite all the huge mainlines, interchange links are rarely wider than a single lane. In the distance the skyline of Manhattan can be seen.
	The very cramped lower deck of the Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge.
	Traffic would be best advised to follow the Thru' Streets across Midtown Manhattan.
	A general view down 57th Street.
General views of Midtown Manhattan
	A typical mast-arm traffic light in New York City, showing the name of the intersecting road (Avenues run north-south in Manhattan, and Streets run east-west). In the bottom left a signal can be seen for pedestrians - these replaced the famous DON'T WALK signals.
	The view down 5th Avenue from 57th Street.
	A nice collection of US street signs here on the corner of 57th and Park Avenue.
	Looking down Park Avenue towards the MetLife tower.
	The area outside the UN headquarters is another signage feast.
	Your guess is as good as mine here...
	There are no true pedestrian phases in Manhattan, instead drivers simply give way to pedestrians. These signs remind them to do so.
	The view here is of New York 9A, also known as West Street. The picture is taken from the footbridge next to the former World Trade Center. West Street was reconstructed after the 1993 bombing, and obviously it was severely damaged when both towers fell on September 11, 2001.
	The Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges as seen from the Staten Island Ferry.
	Not strictly a road, but you have to have a photo of the Statue of Liberty!
	The Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Until 1981 this was the longest of its kind, then the Humber Bridge eclipsed it!
	View of Manhattan from Staten Island.
	On 9th Avenue, this sign points towards the Lincoln Tunnels.
	One of the unusual parking facilities in New York. For a mere $13.00 an hour....!
	Entrance to the Holland Tunnel, arguably the start of Interstate 78.
	The courthouses of New York City are quite impressive.
	New York's City Hall is on the left here.
	More gantry signage in a city centre. Rare to see this in the UK!
	Perform a U-turn to get onto the Brooklyn Bridge and FDR Drive.
	The FDR Drive is accessed via a city street. The flyover above is an entry-slip to the Brooklyn Bridge.
	Underneath the Brooklyn Bridge for the entry slip to the FDR. The offslip from the Brooklyn Bridge curves around to meet this entry-slip, resulting in an amazingly tight interchange braided under the century old bridge.
	Going under the Brooklyn Bridge again to merge with the FDR northbound.
	Interestingly, the FDR Drive was constructed on top of rubble from the city of Bristol. The bridge ahead is the Manhattan Bridge.
	The Williamsburg Bridge is in sight here.
	Exit for Houston Street under the Williamsburg Bridge.
	The FDR reduces to two lanes under this interchange, which causes some considerable traffic congestion in rush hour!
	A veritable smorgasbord of signage here.
	The speed limit on this twisting and narrow expressway is unsurprisingly 40mph.
	The start of the Long Island Expressway here, via the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.
	The FDR Drive was rather quiet when these snaps were taken, but apparently it can be jammed solid both ways for several miles at rush hour.
	Another Crosstown sign, outside the UN building. Spot the Chrysler Building in the background!
	A mass of advertisements on Times Square.
	OK, NO, OK. Typically informal American road signage!
	Times Square after dark!
	Approaching Columbus Circle on the famous Broadway.
	Steam from the subway, on Columbus Circle.
	Broadway is quite spectacular!
	Turn right! These signs are a bit daft if you ask me.
	A Manhattan Bus Lane.
	Approaching Columbus Circle from the south.
From Midtown Manhattan to JFK Airport via Queens-Midtown Tunnel, I-495, NY-25 (Queens Boulevard), and I-678.
	The entrance to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Owing to security rules, photography is prohibited at the portal due to a security checkpoint.
	The exit portal leads directly to the tunnel tollbooth.
	This is the first official notification of I-495 eastbound.
	It looks nice and quiet on the LIE here, but as soon as traffic from I-278 merges in, it becomes very fun to travel on.
	The LIE has a reversible traffic lane, hence the 45mph speed limit.
	Now I-278 has merged in, look at the chaos. The lane drop doesn't help either.
	A pictoral lane ends sign here.
	The exit to Queens Boulevard peels off here. This is a well-used rat run between I-495 and I-678.
	Some more gantry signs here for Queens Boulevard.
	Don't use the shoulder, you stupid semi!
	This matrix board warns passing traffic of its speed. The posted limit is 30mph.
	Approaching the Van Wyck.
	This seems to be a recurring pattern on the Van Wyck. New Yorkers think London is bad, amazingly. It must be our narrow streets...
	A 50mph speed limit on the Van Wyck approaching JFK Airport.
	Some more gantries near JFK Airport.
	Conduit Avenue is the penultimate exit before the airport.
	The terminal approach road inside JFK Airport.

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LMARS is dedicated to the memory of my friend's sister, Amy, who was killed in a road accident. We shall not forget.
All material on LMARS is property of Bryn Buck, unless otherwise stated. I will permit usage of my photographs on any website, provided some form of credit is given, and/or a link to LMARS. You needn't ask for permission if you do as I request. Many thanks!