Francis Lewis Boulevard

Francis Lewis Boulevard begins at an intersection with 148th Avenue and Hook Creek Boulevard in Rosedale, Queens, continues due northwest and encounters its first major intersection (with NY 27 (South Conduit Avenue and Sunrise Highway)) approximately {{convert|0.8|mi}} later, where it also crosses under the Long Island Rail Road's Montauk Branch. Passing over the Laurelton Parkway a short distance later, Francis Lewis Boulevard then continues as a neighborhood street westbound until it reaches the intersection of 138th Avenue and 230th Place, at which point, Francis Lewis Boulevard turns right to a northeastern direction, with 138th Avenue continuing to the west and 230th Place continuing to the south.

Continuing northward from where 230th Place ends at 138th Avenue, Francis Lewis Boulevard becomes wider with a grass mall and then a painted median as it snakes around the Montefiore Cemetery in Laurelton, taking the alignment of 121st Avenue as it snakes around the cemetery. After 223rd Street, Francis Lewis Boulevard leaves 121st Avenue and resumes roughly the same northwestern alignment that it had before the Laurelton Parkway. Passing Springfield Boulevard in Cambria Heights, Queens, Francis Lewis Boulevard becomes a 4-lane road, and maintains a status as a four- or six-lane median divided street for the remainder of its run through Queens, using the alignment of what would be 206th Street south of Cunningham Park and the alignment that would be 200th Street north of it to the Port Washington Branch. Neighborhoods traversed north of Springfield Boulevard are Cambria Heights, Hollis and Queens Village the western edge of Cunningham Park in Fresh Meadows, Auburndale, Bayside, and Whitestone, passing under the LIRR Main Line at the boundary of Hollis and Queens Village, NY 25 (Hillside Avenue), the Grand Central Parkway and the Horace Harding Expressway at the south and north ends of Cunningham Park, respectively, and NY 25A (Northern Boulevard) in Bayside. After crossing under the Port Washington Branch, Francis Lewis Boulevard leaves the street grid and intersects with streets at oblique angles through the rest of its run in Whitestone to its northern terminus at the Cross Island Parkway in Whitestone. At {{convert|10.8|mi}} long, Francis Lewis Boulevard is one of the longest streets in Queens that only runs in Queens, and is one of only two Queens street to pass uninterrupted past both Conduit Avenue and Northern Boulevard, the other being Springfield Boulevard.

One block past the south end of Francis Lewis Boulevard is Hungry Harbor Road, continuing as Rosedale Road, which proceeds east into South Valley Stream in Nassau County. Prior to the construction Marine Parkway–Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge from Brooklyn, and the bridges of Cross Bay Boulevard from Howard Beach, the combined Francis Lewis-Rosedale Road route provided one of the few routes between the Rockaways and the rest of New York City.{{cite web|last1=Walsh|first1=Kevin|title=ROSEDALE, Queens|url=http://forgotten-ny.com/2005/10/rosedale-queens/|publisher=Forgotten New york|access-date=10 March 2017|date=October 29, 2005}}{{cite book|first=Jason D.|last=Antos|title=Flushing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NJ1BlcpQ0dgC&pg=PA54|access-date=10 March 2017|year=2010|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-7257-4|page=54}}

The Cunningham Park stretch of Francis Lewis Boulevard is notorious for drag racing, which has resulted in several fatalities to drivers and pedestrians over the years.{{cite news |last=Rutkoff |first=Aaron |url=http://www.queenstribune.com/feature/ANeedToStopTheSpeed.html |title=A Need To Stop The Speed |work=Queens Tribune |date=April 15, 2007 |access-date=August 15, 2007}} Recently, speed cameras have been installed along this stretch. The Brooklyn-Queens Greenway also runs parallel to Francis Lewis Boulevard through Cunningham Park.

Francis Lewis Boulevard is accessible at Exit 35 of the Cross Island Parkway, Exit 24A off the Belt Parkway, Exit 20A-B off the Grand Central Parkway and Exit 26 off the Long Island Expressway.

Clintonville Street is a short street in Whitestone, beginning at 163rd Street adjacent to the west of Francis Lewis Boulevard, and running parallel to the boulevard to the Cross Island Parkway. It then extends north of the parkway to Whitestone Landing at the East River coastline.{{cite news|title=Bids are Opened for Over-Passes at Whitestone: Will Carry Cross Streets Over Cross Island Boulevard|url=http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2014/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939/Long%20Island%20City%20NY%20Star%20Journal%201939%20-%202176.pdf|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=February 21, 1939|page=9}} Clintonville Street was part of the original Francis Lewis Boulevard, until the boulevard was reconstructed and rerouted as part of the Whitestone Bridge and Cross Island Parkway projects.{{cite news|last1=Finnegan|first1=Thomas|title=It's Clintonville Street: Whitestone Signs Are Misleading|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201941%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201941%2520-%25203051.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff940d3ff9%26DocId%3D4171137%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D10%26hits%3D82b%2B82c%2B82d%2B862%2B863%2B901%2B902%2B903%2B967%2B968%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201941%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201941%2520-%25203051.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff940d3ff9%26DocId%3D4171137%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D10%26hits%3D82b%2B82c%2B82d%2B862%2B863%2B901%2B902%2B903%2B967%2B968%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=October 20, 1941|page=16}}{{cite news|title=Start 26 Homes For War Workers In Queens Area|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25205%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201942%2520Grayscale%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201942%2520Grayscale%2520-%25207095.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffffb186a5ef%26DocId%3D6845914%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D5%26hits%3D21f%2B220%2B221%2B6f8%2B6f9%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25205%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201942%2520Grayscale%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201942%2520Grayscale%2520-%25207095.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffffb186a5ef%26DocId%3D6845914%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D5%26hits%3D21f%2B220%2B221%2B6f8%2B6f9%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=October 25, 1942|page=10B}}

Before being renamed in the 1930s, the roadway was called Cross Island Boulevard.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs426c,0,6961092.story |title=Never to Be Forgotten |website=Newsday |access-date=July 24, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001002438/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs426c,0,6961092.story |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |quote=Francis Lewis Boulevard, originally Cross Island Boulevard, was renamed in the 1930s.}} The street was renamed after Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who owned a home in Whitestone, to avoid confusion with the Cross Island Parkway. Portions of the boulevard were built through Lewis' Whitestone estate. Many residents that live by the street usually refer to Francis Lewis Boulevard as simply "Franny Lew".{{cite news |last=Kilgannon |first=Corey |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03E7DE1038F933A25757C0A9629C8B63 |title=Accident Fuels Anger on Strip Infamous for Drag Racing |work=The New York Times |date=April 10, 2004 |access-date=September 29, 2007 |quote=In springtime, the boulevard becomes what locals call the Franny Lew Speedway, with drivers running quarter-mile sprints for money or stoplight-to-stoplight races for high-velocity kicks and bragging rights.}}

The name of Clintonville Street is a reference to the early name of the Whitestone area, Clintonville. The area was named Clintonville after former New York City mayor and New York State governor DeWitt Clinton.{{cite book|first=Jason D.|last=Antos|title=Whitestone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9O4iJg1-Ks8C&pg=PA111|access-date=3 March 2017|year=2006|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-4628-5|page=111}}

Prior to being mapped out, what is now Francis Lewis Boulevard consisted of several separate narrow roads, including some that dated back to the American Revolutionary War, and some which ran along Native American trails. These roads appeared on late 18th Century maps created by British general Sir Henry Clinton. The Whitestone section of the route now known as Clintonville Street was initially called 11th Avenue.{{cite web|title=Stage IA Archaeological and Historical Sensitivity: EvaluatIon of the Romano Property (Lot 31, Block 4697)|url=http://s-media.nyc.gov/agencies/lpc/arch_reports/563.pdf|website=nyc.gov|publisher=Grossman and Associates. Inc.|access-date=3 March 2017|date=March 1993}} South of Cryders Lane and the current Cross Island Parkway in northern Whitestone to what is now Northern Boulevard (then Broadway or Jackson Avenue), the route was known as Whitestone Road and Whitestone Boulevard, and later Beechhurst Avenue.{{cite news|title=Work of the Civic Bodies|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201917%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201917%2520-%25201462.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D6d76f155%26DocId%3D7144858%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D5%26hits%3D1f8%2B1f9%2B207%2B21a%2B220%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201917%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201917%2520-%25201462.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D6d76f155%26DocId%3D7144858%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D5%26hits%3D1f8%2B1f9%2B207%2B21a%2B220%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=10 March 2017|work=The Daily Long Island Farmer|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=August 1917|page=8}}{{cite news|title=Final Flushing Map 367-Acre Lay Out: Eighty-Foot Cross Island Boulevard and 100-Foot Utopia Parkway Shown|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25205%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201917%2520Grayscale%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201917%2520Grayscale%2520-%25205770.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D3fec5f38%26DocId%3D6524881%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D8%26hits%3D10c%2B10d%2B288%2B289%2B2a6%2B2a7%2B2b3%2B2b4%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%25205%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201917%2520Grayscale%2FBrooklyn%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Eagle%25201917%2520Grayscale%2520-%25205770.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D3fec5f38%26DocId%3D6524881%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cindex%2520O%252dG%252dT%26HitCount%3D8%26hits%3D10c%2B10d%2B288%2B289%2B2a6%2B2a7%2B2b3%2B2b4%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=August 1, 1917|page=3}}{{cite book|author=New York (N.Y.)|title=The City Record: Official Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nds9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA6880|access-date=10 March 2017|year=1922|page=6880}} Streets along the route in Southeast Queens were called Rosedale Avenue, Squier Street, Sutro Street, and Dunton Avenue.{{cite book|author=New York (N.Y.). Board of Estimate and Apportionment|author-link=New York City Board of Estimate|title=Minutes of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment of the City of New York|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpA6AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA3304|access-date=10 March 2017|year=1913|publisher=M. B. Brown Printing & Binding Company|page=3304}}{{cite book|author1=New York (N.Y.)|author2=New York (N.Y.). Board of Aldermen|title=Ordinances Resolutions, Etc. Passed by the Board of Aldermen of the City of New York and Approved by the Mayor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sLREAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA59|access-date=10 March 2017|year=1921|publisher=Board of Aldermen|pages=59–62}} Rosedale Avenue had been laid out in the 1890s in Rosedale (then Foster's Meadow), and served as the primary thoroughfare for the town.{{cite web|last1=Walsh|first1=Kevin|title=QUEENS-NASSAU LINE, Part 4|url=http://forgotten-ny.com/2011/07/queens-nassau-line-part-4/|publisher=Forgotten New York|access-date=10 March 2017|date=July 24, 2011}}

The entire route was first mapped in 1912 or 1913 by the Queens Topographical Bureau as Rosedale Boulevard,{{cite book|title=Completion of Francis Lewis Boulevard|date=December 16, 1940|publisher=Triborough Bridge Authority, New York City Department of Parks and Recreation|url=https://archive.org/details/completionoffran00harv|access-date=3 March 2017}}{{cite news|title=Francis Lewis Boulevard To Be Cut Through Park|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2520-%25206071.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffffe7cbd466%26DocId%3D4862917%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D14%26hits%3D29%2B2a%2B66%2B67%2B7d%2B7e%2B9b%2B9c%2B9d%2B135%2B136%2B137%2B168%2B169%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Long%2520Island%2520Daily%2520Press%25201940%2520-%25206071.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffffe7cbd466%26DocId%3D4862917%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D14%26hits%3D29%2B2a%2B66%2B67%2B7d%2B7e%2B9b%2B9c%2B9d%2B135%2B136%2B137%2B168%2B169%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=December 16, 1940|page=1}}{{cite news|title=Road Funs Asked by Moses, Harvey: Seek $1,250,000 For Job On Francis Lewis Blvd.|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2520-%25205322.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D60f440ad%26DocId%3D4295841%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D13%26hits%3Dc94%2Bc95%2Bca8%2Bca9%2Bcf0%2Bcf1%2Bd14%2Bd15%2Bd16%2Bd95%2Bd96%2Bdde%2Bddf%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252014%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2FLong%2520Island%2520City%2520NY%2520Star%2520Journal%25201940%2520-%25205322.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3D60f440ad%26DocId%3D4295841%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520U%252dF%252dP%26HitCount%3D13%26hits%3Dc94%2Bc95%2Bca8%2Bca9%2Bcf0%2Bcf1%2Bd14%2Bd15%2Bd16%2Bd95%2Bd96%2Bdde%2Bddf%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=3 March 2017|work=Long Island Star-Journal|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=December 16, 1940|page=1}}{{cite news|title=Hollis Map Adopted; Many New Features|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/55221749/?terms=%22planned%2Bas%2Ba%2Btraffic%22|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|agency=Newspapers.com|date=May 29, 1913|page=4}} as part of the Hollis Tentative Map for Queens which mapped roads through Southeast Queens such as the future Grand Central Parkway.{{cite news|title=New Map Adopted: Marks Important Step in Queens Borough Development|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1913/06/01/archives/new-map-adopted-marks-important-step-in-queens-borough-development.html|access-date=10 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=June 1, 1913}} The road at this time was referred to as a "cattle guard", likely due to rough terrain along the route.{{cite news|title=Improvement of Streets|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201916%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201916%2520-%25201533.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff93394137%26DocId%3D7142499%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D4%26hits%3Dd52%2Bd53%2Bed9%2Beda%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201916%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201916%2520-%25201533.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff93394137%26DocId%3D7142499%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D4%26hits%3Dd52%2Bd53%2Bed9%2Beda%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=10 March 2017|work=The Daily Long Island Farmer|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=August 17, 1916|page=1}} In 1917, the city proposed a north-to-south "Cross Island Boulevard", combining the existing roads in northern Queens with the planned Rosedale Boulevard. The road was planned to be {{convert|80|ft|m}} wide. The name of the route was officially changed to Cross Island Boulevard in the 1920s. This name change was opposed by residents in Rosedale, who wished to retain the Rosedale Avenue name.{{cite news|title=Rosedale Will Get New School Early in 1925: Oppose Plan to Rename Rosedale Avenue|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201924%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201924%2520-%25201512.pdf%23xml%3Dhttp%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff8e0fec80%26DocId%3D7162139%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D4%26hits%3D9d%2B9e%2Bb8%2Bb9%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&uri=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201924%2FJamaica%2520NY%2520Daily%2520Long%2520Island%2520Farmer%25201924%2520-%25201512.pdf&xml=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FdtSearch%2Fdtisapi6.dll%3Fcmd%3Dgetpdfhits%26u%3Dffffffff8e0fec80%26DocId%3D7162139%26Index%3DZ%253a%255cIndex%2520I%252dE%252dV%26HitCount%3D4%26hits%3D9d%2B9e%2Bb8%2Bb9%2B%26SearchForm%3D%252fFulton%255fNew%255fform%252ehtml%26.pdf&openFirstHlPage=false|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Long Island Daily Press|agency=Fultonhistory.com|date=July 17, 1924|page=1}}

Prior to the 1940s, the boulevard consisted of two sections separated by Cunningham Park, with only the northern spur officially called Cross Island Boulevard.{{cite news|title=Cross Island Boulevard Links North and South Shores|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/57570517/?terms=%22cross%2Bisland%2Bboulevard%22|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|agency=Newspapers.com|date=July 19, 1931|page=D1}}{{cite news|author1=Harvey, George U.|author-link=George U. Harvey|title=Borough President Harvey's Review|url=https://bklyn.newspapers.com/image/59986692/?terms=%22cross%2Bisland%2Bboulevard%22|access-date=10 March 2017|work=Brooklyn Daily Eagle|agency=Newspapers.com|date=October 26, 1932|pages=47, 49}} In late 1932, the city finalized plans to extend Cross Island Boulevard south to Springfield Boulevard and Linden Boulevard in southern Queens. On November 11, 1938, construction began on an upgrade to the north end of the boulevard, in order to serve as a link between the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge and the 1939 New York World's Fair. The overhauled boulevard was reopened between the bridge and Horace Harding Boulevard (then called World's Fair Boulevard; now the Long Island Expressway) a year later on November 16, 1939, at which point it was renamed Francis Lewis Boulevard.{{cite news|title=NEW BOULEVARD OPENED; Francis Lewis Road in Queens Is Whitestone Bridge Approach|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/16/archives/new-boulevard-opened-francis-lewis-road-in-queens-is-whitestone.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 16, 1939}}{{cite news|title=HARVEY TO OPEN NEW ROAD; $700,000 Highway Links Whitestone Bridge to Fair Boulevard|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1939/11/13/archives/harvey-to-open-new-road-700000-highway-links-whitestone-bridge-to.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=November 13, 1939}} At this time, the remaining original stretch of Cross Island Boulevard in Whitestone was renamed Clintonville Street, although many signs continued to identify it as Cross Island Boulevard. The southern section of Francis Lewis Boulevard, meanwhile, consisted of narrow roads with macadam construction. Improvements to the southern leg of the boulevard were in the preliminary stages at this time.{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Charles G.|title=A Link For Vital Road: Plan to Build Short Stretch of Francis Lewis Boulevard Aimed at Bottlenek|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/22/archives/a-link-for-vital-roads-plan-to-build-short-stretch-of-francis-lewis.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=December 22, 1940}}

In 1940, the city planned to connect the two sections of the boulevard, by cutting through Cunningham Park.{{cite news|title=MOSES SEEKS LAND DIVIDING CITY PARK; Cunningham Park, Queens, Is Endangered by Owner's Plan to Build Homes, He Says|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/04/09/archives/moses-seeks-land-dividing-city-park-cunningham-park-queens-is.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=April 9, 1940}} Construction on the spur began in 1941.{{cite news|title='FORGOTTEN ROAD' IN QUEENS OPENED; Lights Installed on Francis Lewis Boulevard Through Cunningham Park|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1946/06/03/archives/forgotten-road-in-queens-opened-lights-installed-on-francis-lewis.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=June 3, 1946}} The road was completed in June 1943, but did not open due to restrictions by the New York City Police Department, which required lights to be installed along the route. Materials to install the lights were restricted by the World War II efforts. In spite of restrictions, many motorists utilized the stretch illegally. The connection was opened in June 1946. The link provided a direct route from Southeast Queens to the Whitestone Bridge for trucks and other commercial traffic, which could not use the Cross Island Parkway.{{cite news|title=$1,250,000 ASKED FOR QUEENS ROAD; Moses and Harvey to Appeal to City Today for Funds to Complete Lewis Blvd.|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1940/12/16/archives/1250000-asked-for-queens-road-moses-and-harvey-to-appeal-to-city-to.html|access-date=3 March 2017|work=The New York Times|date=December 16, 1940}}

File:MTA Parsons Boulevard 20th Avenue 02.jpg bus in Whitestone]]

Francis Lewis Boulevard has two main bus lines:

• The {{NYC bus link|Q76}} runs on Francis Lewis between Hillside Avenue in Hollis and the Cross Island Parkway in Whitestone. It runs through the Holliswood, Cunningham Park, Bayside, and Whitestone sections of the street.
• The {{NYC bus link|Q77}} runs on the stretch between Hillside Avenue and Springfield Boulevard, and goes through the Hollis, St. Albans, and Springfield Gardens stretches of Francis Lewis. Service is shared with the n6/n6X, n24, and select n1 buses until Jamaica Avenue, where they head east.

Other bus lines include the following:

• All {{NYC bus link|Q16}} buses run between 29th and 26th Avenues, with alternate service extended to Willets Point Boulevard. Under the Queens Bus Redesign, all buses will turn onto 26th Avenue.
• From 32nd Avenue east of Francis Lewis, the {{NYC bus link|Q28}} heads south to Crocheron Avenue, and the {{NYC bus link|Q31}} north to 27th Avenue, where it terminates.{{Cite NYC bus map|Q}}
• The Cambria Heights-bound {{NYC bus link|Q27}} runs from Springfield Boulevard to 120th Avenue, where it terminates.
• From two different Rosedale terminals heading to Jamaica, the {{NYC bus link|Q85}} runs from 246th Street to Sunrise Highway, then the {{NYC bus link|Q5}} takes over until Brookville Boulevard.
• The {{NYC bus link|Q111}} runs on the boulevard south of 147th Avenue. Most buses terminate at Hook Creek Boulevard, but 2 trips continue towards Cedarhurst in Nassau County during rush hours: one to Cedarhurst in the morning and one to Jamaica in the afternoon.
• In Rosedale, the boulevard is served by the {{NYC bus link|X63}} express bus south of either Sunrise Highway (to Rosedale), or 245th Street (to Manhattan), and heads west on 148th Avenue, which operates during rush hours only. This route was previously served by the Q5S shuttle bus, a spur of the current {{NYC bus link|Q5}} route, which has since been discontinued.{{cite web|title=1975 Queens Bus Map|url=http://www.wardmaps.com/viewasset.php?aid=16356|website=wardmaps.com|publisher=New York City Transit Authority|access-date=18 February 2016|date=1975}}{{cite web|last1=Bearak|first1=Corey|title=Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Urges Council Look to Buses to “Connect Transportation Deserts” Testimony to City Council Committee on Transportation Int. Nos. 964 and 965 and Res. 670 and 903 by Mark Henry, President and Business Agent, ATU Local 1056|url=http://coreybearak.com/projects/consulting/2015-11-12_testimony.pdf|publisher=Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1056|access-date=18 February 2016|date=November 12, 2015}}
• The {{NYC bus link|Q26}} uses the corridor from 58th Avenue to Hollis Court Boulevard to change its direction from Fresh Meadows to Flushing.

Two major Catholic high schools in New York City, St. Francis Preparatory School and Holy Cross High School, are located on Francis Lewis Boulevard. St. Francis Preparatory is located at the intersection with Horace Harding Expressway, whereas Holy Cross is located near the intersection with 26th Avenue. Every year the two schools play a football game in the beginning of the season called the "Battle of the Boulevard", in reference to the shared stretch of road.{{cite news|author=Samuel, Ebenezer|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high_school/2008/10/07/2008-10-07_st_francis_prep_cruises_past_holy_cross_.html|title=St. Francis Prep Cruises Past Holy Cross in Battle of the Boulevard|date=October 7, 2008|work=New York Daily News|df=mdy-all}}

{{NYinttop|nyc=yes|borough=Queens|length_ref=}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Rosedale

|lspan=3

|mile=0.0

|road=Hook Creek Boulevard

|notes=Southern terminus

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=0.9

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|27|name1=South Conduit Avenue / Sunrise Highway|Parkway|Belt|dir2=west|to2=yes}}

|notes=

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=1.0

|road={{jct|state=NY|road|Brookville Boulevard|Parkway|Cross Island|to2=yes|dir2=north}}

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Laurelton

|mile=1.8

|road=Merrick Boulevard

|notes=Former NY 27A

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Cambria Heights

|lspan=2

|mile=3.4

|road=Springfield Boulevard

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=3.6

|road=Linden Boulevard

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location1=Hollis

|location2=Queens Village

|mile=4.9

|road=Jamaica Avenue

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Jamaica Estates

|mile=5.5

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|25|name1=Hillside Avenue}}

}}

{{NYCint

|location_special=Cunningham Park

|lspan=3

|mile=5.9

|mile2=6.2

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Grand Central|location1=Throgs Neck Bridge|location2=Eastern Long Island|location3=RFK Bridge}}

|notes=Cloverleaf interchange; exits 20A-B on Grand Central Parkway

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=6.3

|road=Cunningham Park

|notes=Interchange

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=6.4

|road=Union Turnpike

|notes=Former NY 25C

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Fresh Meadows

|mile=7.3

|road={{jct|state=NY|I|495|name1=Long Island Expressway|location1=Eastern Long Island|city2=Midtown Tunnel}}

|notes=Exits 26-28 on I-495

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Auburndale

|lspan=2

|mile=8.3

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|25A|name1=Northern Boulevard}}

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=9.3

|road=Utopia Parkway

}}

{{NYCint

|borough=Queens

|location=Whitestone

|mile=10.8

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Cross Island|dir1=north}}

|notes=Northern terminus

}}

{{jctbtm}}

Image:FLewisPark.jpg|From the former Long Island Motor Parkway bridge

Image:FLewisBlvdBayside.JPG|At 42nd Avenue in Bayside

Image:Frannie Lew 53 jeh.JPG|At 53rd Avenue, Oakland Gardens

File:FLewisBlvdUnionTpke.JPG|At Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows

File:Frannie Lew Hillside jeh.JPG|At Hillside Avenue in Hollis

File:Francis Lewis Boulevard, Whitestone, NY.JPG|In Whitestone

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.angelfire.com/ny4/expwy/sr/phflbcp.htm Jeff Saltzman's Francis Lewis Blvd. section]
• [http://www.forgotten-ny.com/NEIGHBORHOODS/borderrosedale/rosedale.html Forgotten NY: Rosedale]
• [http://www.francislewisblvd.com/ FrancisLewisBlvd.com (News, Photos, Links) related to Francis Lewis Blvd in Queens, NY]

{{Commons category}}

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{{Queens Streets}}

Category:Streets in Queens, New York