East River

This article is about the East River in New York City. For other uses, see East River (disambiguation).

The East River is a tidal strait in New York City connecting Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island (including the boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn) from the island of Manhattan and the Bronx.

In reference to its connection to Long Island Sound, it was once also known as the Sound River.

The Channel

Historically, the lower portion of the river (separating Manhattan from Brooklyn) was one of the busiest and most important channels in the world, particularly during the first three centuries of New York City's history. The Brooklyn Bridge, opened in 1883, was the first bridge to span the river, replacing frequent ferry service. (Some passenger ferry service remains between Queens and Manhattan.)

The Bronx River drains into the East River in the northern section of the strait.

North of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Bronx Kill. Along the east of Ward's Island, at approximately the strait's midpoint, it narrows into a channel called Hell Gate, which is spanned by both the Triborough Bridge and the Hell Gate Bridge. On the south side of Ward's Island, it is joined by the Harlem River.

Newtown Creek on Long Island drains into the East River, forming part of the boundary between Queens and Brooklyn.

The East River contains a number of islands, including:

Upper section
Lower Section
- Ward's Island and Randall's Island (joined by landfill)
- Roosevelt Island
- U Thant Island (Belmont Island)

Crossings

Bridges

The river is spanned by eight bridges, which from north to south are:

Throgs Neck Bridge
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
Rikers Island Bridge (From Queens to Rikers Island only)
Hell Gate Bridge
Triborough Bridge (East River Suspension Span)
Roosevelt Island Bridge (east channel only)
Queensboro Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge.

Tunnels

The river is spanned by thirteen tunnels. From north to south, along with uses as of July 2006:

63rd Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway service)
60th Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
53rd Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
Steinway Tunnel (Trains of the subway service)
Queens Midtown Tunnel (Vehicular traffic of Interstate 495)
East River Tunnels (Long Island Railroad and Amtrak trains from Penn Station to points north and east)
14th Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway service)
Rutgers Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway service)
Cranberry Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
Clark Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
Montague Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
Joralemon Street Tunnel (Trains of the subway services)
Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel (Vehicular traffic of Interstate 478)

External links