This week's bridge is the Porpoise Bridge over the Flushing River in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens. Its location is just east of the ramp coming down from the subway and LIRR stations, and near the miniature golf course.It is a fixed bridge, but includes tidal gates to prevent high tides or flooding further into the park. This is the southernmost (inlandmost) bridge before the Flushing River is "buried", or diverted into tubes and covered by parkland. There are some proposals being put forth to restore the river to daylight.
This bridge was built for the 1939 World's Fair to protect the fairgrounds from flooding and saltwater, and according to one source was originally called Meridian Road Bridge, although according to Google Maps the park road that crosses it is now called Perimeter Road, although I don't think it really matters, since it's just an access road for park employees and other official vehicles. Tide Gate Bridge is a name given on a sign-map in the park, but I think that's more descriptive than an official name. The sign in the picture above is good enough for me. Apparently it got its current name because at the 1939 World's Fair there was nearby a statue of a woman with porpoises dancing around her.
No comments:
Post a Comment