Interstate 278

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File:2021-05-26 11 55 18 View west along Interstate 278 (Union Freeway) from the overpass for Union County Route 616 (Brunswick Avenue) in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

The New Jersey segment of I-278 begins in Linden, Union County, at the junction with US 1 and US 9 (US 1/9), where it merges into the southbound direction of that road. The freeway heads east and carries two lanes in each direction, with the eastbound direction widening to three lanes.{{cite web |url = http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/refdata/sldiag/pdf/00000278__-.pdf |title = I-278 Straight Line Diagram |access-date = March 17, 2020 |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation }} I-278 runs between urban residential areas to the north and Phillips 66's Bayway Refinery to the south as it continues into Elizabeth.{{Google maps |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=I-278+and+u.s.+route+1+linden,+nj&daddr=40.6938909,-73.9990697+to:I-278+and+I-95+new+york,+ny&hl=en&geocode=FWYbbAId5FCT-ykZYGb22rLDiTHC9RHxCfHb8A%3BFYLwbAIdI92W-yk5O7WXRlrCiTE2NYmUsVGS3Q%3BFdf_bgIdXFWZ-ymbALgTNIvCiTHvCCK1KQ8Xvg&mra=ls&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.301969,86.220703&ie=UTF8&ll=40.707189,-74.018326&spn=0.218616,0.673599&t=h&z=11&via=1|title=overview of Interstate 278|access-date=February 9, 2010}} In this area, the road meets Route 439 and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) at the only intermediate interchange that I-278 has in New Jersey. This short length is sometimes called the Union Freeway. After this interchange, I-278 turns southeast and crosses the New Jersey Turnpike, Conrail Shared Assets Operations' (CSAO) Chemical Coast Secondary line, a Staten Island Railway freight line that is used by CSAO, industrial areas, CSAO's Bayway Industrial Track line, and finally Arthur Kill on the six-lane Goethals Bridge into Staten Island, a borough of New York City. This bridge is maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ).

File:Interstate 278 time-lapse.webm

Upon coming onto Staten Island, I-278 becomes the SIE. After the Goethals Bridge, the highway passes under the Travis Branch railroad line that is owned by the Staten Island Railway and operated by CSAO and has a toll gantry serving the bridge. At this point, the freeway becomes eight lanes and maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), coming to an exit for Western and Forest avenues before reaching a directional interchange with the West Shore Expressway (New York State Route 440 (NY 440). NY 440 forms a concurrency with I-278, and the road heads into residential neighborhoods. The road carries four lanes eastbound and three lanes westbound as it comes to the exit serving Richmond Avenue. Immediately after, NY 440 splits from the SIE at a large interchange, heading north on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. This interchange also provides access to Victory Boulevard. East of this point, the expressway gains a bus lane in each direction. The six-lane I-278 turns to the east past this point, with Gannon Avenue South and Gannon Avenue North serving as frontage roads, and reaches the Bradley Avenue exit.

The next interchange the SIE is with Todt Hill Road and Slosson Avenue. This exchange was the original terminal of the bus lane in each direction that also serves as a high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV lane) that was built in 2005.{{cite news |access-date = February 9, 2010 |last = Yates |first = Maura |title = Staten Island Expressway bus lane open to HOV starting Monday |newspaper = Staten Island Advance |date = January 11, 2008 |url = http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/expressway_bus_lane_open_to_ho.html }} After Todt Hill Road and Slosson Avenue, I-278 runs through a wooded area where it comes to an incomplete interchange that was to be the northern terminus of the Richmond Parkway.{{cite news |last = O'Grady |first = Jim |title = Neighborhood Report: Staten Island Up Close; Greenbelt Fans Want Routes Off the Maps |newspaper = The New York Times |date = November 22, 1998 |access-date = February 9, 2010 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/22/nyregion/neighborhood-report-staten-island-up-close-greenbelt-fans-want-routes-off-maps.html |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} The road continues back into residential areas and comes to an interchange serving Clove Road and Richmond Road. Past this, I-278 passes over the Staten Island Railway rapid transit line. The next interchange the freeway has is with Hylan Boulevard. A short distance later, the SIE comes to a large interchange that serves Lily Pond Avenue and Bay Street. Immediately after, I-278 reaches the former toll plaza for the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, where electronic toll collection is in effect. I-278 goes onto the Verrazzano Bridge linking to Brooklyn over The Narrows. This bridge, which is maintained by the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), has six lanes on the lower level and seven lanes on the upper level which includes one HOV lane.{{cite web |publisher = MTA Bridges & Tunnels |url = http://web.mta.info/bandt/html/veraz.html |title = MTA Bridges and Tunnels |access-date = February 10, 2010 }} In addition to local traffic on Staten Island, the expressway provides the most direct route from Brooklyn and Long Island to New Jersey. It is widely known throughout the New York City area as one of the most congested roads in the city.{{cite book |title = Staten Island Expressway Bridge Rehabilitation and TSM Measures |publisher = TRC Companies, Inc. }}

File:2024-05-29 10 05 46 View west along Interstate 278 (Staten Island Expressway) from the overpass for Clove Road in Staten Island, New York City, New York.jpg

After the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, I-278 continues into Brooklyn on the Gowanus Expressway. Immediately after the bridge, the freeway comes to an eastbound exit and westbound entrance for the Belt Parkway. After this, a full interchange serves 92nd Street at which point I-278 becomes a single-level six-lane freeway. Soon after, one of the eastbound lanes becomes an HOV lane, continuing east to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.{{cite news |last = Liff |first = Bob |title = Study: Keep HOV Lane at Gowanus |newspaper = New York Daily News |date = March 6, 2000 }} restricted to buses, carpools, and vehicles with three or more occupants. On weekdays, this HOV lane carries eastbound traffic in the morning and westbound traffic in the afternoon. The lane is closed at other times, including certain New York City government holidays.{{cite web | title=HOV Lanes | publisher=New York City Department of Transportation | url=https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-02801 | access-date=November 27, 2022}}{{cite web | last=Kashiwagi | first=Sydney | title=DOT agrees to keep Gowanus Expressway HOV lane open during 6 working holidays | website=silive | date=November 27, 2018 | url=https://www.silive.com/news/2018/11/dot-agrees-to-keep-gowanus-expressway-hov-lane-open-during-6-working-holidays.html | access-date=November 27, 2022}}

The Gowanus Expressway continues northeast into urban residential neighborhoods and reaches an eastbound interchange at Fort Hamilton Parkway and a westbound interchange at 86th Street. Turning more to the north, I-278 comes to a partial interchange at 65th Street, with an exit eastbound and entrance eastbound. The road curves northwest at this point and comes to a directional interchange providing access to 3rd Avenue and the Belt Parkway. The Gowanus Expressway turns northeast again at the interchange with Belt Parkway, and it continues along an elevated alignment above Third Avenue, running through urban residential and commercial areas. Along this viaduct, I-278 has interchanges with 38th Street/39th Street and the Prospect Expressway (NY 27).

File:Gowanus5bbtjeh.JPG |alt=An elevated freeway in a city with bicyclists riding on it]]

After the interchange with the Prospect Expressway (NY 27), the freeway widens to eight lanes and heads north, coming to an interchange with the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel approach (officially the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, I-478), with the exit ramps splitting from the median of I-278. Westbound access to the tunnel is provided by the Hamilton Avenue exit. In this area, the freeway passes over the Gowanus Canal, an extremely polluted canal that was once used for shipping.{{cite news |url = https://emagazine.com/currents-of-change/ |title = Currents of change: Can Brooklyn's Gowanus Canal be Cleaned Up? |last1 = Held |first1 = James E. |date = May 1, 1999|work = E – The Environmental Magazine |access-date = January 5, 2017 |issue = 10 |volume = 3 }} The site has been designated a Superfund site by the Environmental Protection Agency.{{cite web |url = http://www.epa.gov/Region2/superfund/npl/0206222c.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604174317/http://www.epa.gov/Region2/superfund/npl/0206222c.pdf |archive-date = June 4, 2011 |title = Gowanus Canal site description |publisher = EPA |access-date = March 10, 2010 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}{{cite news |last = Navarro |first = Mireya |title = Gowanus Canal Labeled Superfund Site, Over City's Objections |website = The New York Times |date = March 2, 2010 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/nyregion/03gowanus.html |access-date = January 9, 2017 }}

{{Redirect|BQE|the Basque dialect with the deprecated ISO 639-3 code "bqe"|Navarro-Lapurdian dialect|the Sufjan Stevens album|The BQE (soundtrack)}}

After the exit for the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel, I-278 heads north onto the six-lane BQE, passing through urban neighborhoods near Downtown Brooklyn on a depressed alignment. The next interchange the highway reaches serves Atlantic Avenue. After Atlantic Avenue, the road runs along the East River harbor in Downtown Brooklyn/Brooklyn Heights and is partially covered to create the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. {{As of|2021|10}}, the roadway has been reduced to two lanes in each direction between Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge as part of efforts to extend the life of the roadway and meet modern safety standards for lane width and shoulders.{{Cite news|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=December 14, 2022|title=Could the B.Q.E. Return to Six Lanes of Traffic?|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/13/nyregion/bqe-six-lanes.html|access-date=March 4, 2023|issn=0362-4331}}I-278, at this point maintained by the New York City Department of Transportation, makes a sharp turn to the east away from the East River and comes to an interchange serving the Brooklyn Bridge and Cadman Plaza.{{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/general-info/built-and-unbuilt-arterial-system |title=NYSDOT – Region 11 (New York City) Built and Unbuilt Arterial System |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |language=en |access-date=September 17, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404163604/https://www.dot.ny.gov/regional-offices/region11/general-info/built-and-unbuilt-arterial-system |archive-date=April 4, 2019}} The freeway continues on an elevated alignment and makes a turn southeast as it comes to ramps accessing the Manhattan Bridge. As of 2022, the city portion is planned to be rebuilt.

File:Interstate278enteringbrooklyn.jpg]]

North of the bridges, the highway becomes state-maintained again and reaches at an exit serving Tillary Street and Flushing Avenue. At this point, the BQE continues east through residential areas and turns northeast upon coming to the Wythe Avenue/Kent Avenue exit. The road passes through the Williamsburg neighborhood on a depressed alignment, reaching an interchange that serves the Williamsburg Bridge, with an exit at Metropolitan Avenue a short distance later. I-278 becomes elevated again as it passes through more neighborhoods and comes to the interchange with Humboldt Street/McGuinness Boulevard. The BQE enters more industrial areas as it comes to the Meeker Avenue/Morgan Avenue exit.

I-278 crosses the Newtown Creek into Queens on the Kosciuszko Bridge. Upon entering Queens, the BQE runs north between residential neighborhoods to the east and Calvary Cemetery to the west before coming to an interchange with the LIE (I-495). After I-495, the freeway makes a turn to the east, passing over a residential street before crossing over New Calvary Cemetery. The road turns northeast through more urban neighborhoods and reaches an interchange at Queens Boulevard (NY 25). At this point, I-278 becomes city-maintained again and passes under the Long Island Rail Road's Main Line as it continues into a depressed alignment. The BQE turns north as it approaches the exit for Broadway and Roosevelt Avenue. I-278 heads back onto a viaduct and comes to a single-point urban interchange at Northern Boulevard (NY 25A). A short distance past Northern Boulevard (NY 25A), the freeway splits into east and west segments with four lanes each that respectively merge into the Grand Central Parkway east- and westbound. Astoria Boulevard is accessible from either leg. Both legs receive Interstate funding, though only the western leg is signed as part of I-278.{{cite book |title = NYCDOT Bridges &Tunnels Annual Condition Report 2010 |publisher = New York City Department of Transportation |page = 199 |url = http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/bridgereport10.pdf }}

File:BQE6047.JPG

{{See also|Grand Central Parkway|Robert F. Kennedy Bridge}}

I-278 turns west to run along the eight-lane state-maintained Grand Central Parkway, with Astoria Boulevard (and Hoyt Avenue later on) serving as a frontage road. The road runs along a depressed alignment, passing under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, then the New York City Subway's BMT Astoria Line at 31st Street. The Grand Central Parkway overlap ends at the interchange with 31st Street, and I-278 continues northwest along the tolled, eight-lane Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which passes over Astoria. Eastbound tolls are collected electronically at this point.

File:2024-05-24 14 29 58 View west along the Grand Central Parkway and east along Interstate 278 from the Astoria Boulevard BMT station in Queens, New York City, New York.jpg

I-278 crosses the East River on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, which maintained by the TBTA. It then enters Wards Island, which is a part of the borough of Manhattan. On Wards Island, the highway heads north through Wards Island Park and passes to the east of Manhattan Psychiatric Center as it passes over the border onto Randalls Island, which is connected to Wards Island by land. I-278 passes through the bridge's former toll plaza before an interchange that provides access to FDR Drive by way of another segment of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge over the Harlem River. After this interchange, the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge carries the route over the Bronx Kill into the Bronx, where westbound tolls are collected electronically.{{cite web |url = http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Automatic-Tolls-Coming-to-New-York-City-Bridges-Tunnels-NYC-396050241.html |title = Automatic Tolls to Replace Gates at 9 NYC Spans: Cuomo |last = Siff |first = Andrew |date = October 5, 2016 |website = NBC New York |access-date = December 25, 2016 }}{{cite web |url = http://abc7ny.com/1666924/ |title = MTA rolls out cashless toll schedule for bridges, tunnels |author = WABC |date = December 21, 2016 |website = ABC7 New York |access-date = December 25, 2016 }}

{{Main|Bruckner Expressway}}

File:2024-06-18 10 55 38 View west along Interstate 278 (Bruckner Expressway) from the pedestrian overpass at Stratford Avenue in the Bronx, New York City, New York.jpg

In the Bronx, I-278 becomes the Bruckner Expressway and reaches an interchange with the Major Deegan Expressway (I-87). At this point, the Bruckner Expressway heads northeast on a six-lane elevated alignment through industrial areas with some residences, paralleling the Northeast Corridor. Along this section, there is a westbound exit and eastbound entrance for East 138th Street. Sheridan Boulevard (NY 895) splits from the eastbound direction of I-278 as the Bruckner Expressway makes a turn to the east into residential and commercial neighborhoods on a surface alignment, crossing the Bronx River on a drawbridge. The road has an interchange at Hunts Point Avenue before coming to the Bronx River Parkway. Continuing east, the road has an exit serving White Plains Road and Castle Hill Avenue.

I-278's eastern terminus is at the Bruckner Interchange further to the east. Here, the Bruckner Expressway becomes I-95 and continues towards the New England Thruway. At this interchange, I-278 also has access to the Clearview Expressway (I-295), the Hutchinson River Expressway (I-678), and the Hutchinson River Parkway itself. Legally, the New York section of I-278 is defined as part of Interstate Route Connector 512 and all of Interstate Route Connector 518 in New York Highway Law § 340-a.{{citation |title = New York Designation Of State Interstate Routes |url = http://law.justia.com/newyork/codes/highway/hay0340-a_340-a.html |publisher = New York Assembly |access-date = December 19, 2009 }}

File:2020-07-24 16 26 27 View north along U.S. Route 1 and U.S. Route 9 at the exit for Interstate 278 EAST (TO New Jersey Turnpike-Interstate 95, Goethals Bridge, Staten Island) in Linden, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

The New Jersey portion of freeway was planned in 1955 as the Union Freeway and designated as I-278 in 1958. It was to connect the Goethals Bridge west to I-78 at the tripoint of Springfield, Union Township, and Millburn.{{cite map |publisher = Millburn, New Jersey |title = The Township of Millburn in the County of Essex New Jersey |year = 1968 |url = http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/ESSEX_COUNTY/Millburn.jpg |access-date = February 13, 2010 }} The western part of this planned freeway faced strong opposition. Even though it was to run along an abandoned railroad right-of-way, it would traverse through dense development in Roselle Park, Kenilworth, and Union Township,*{{cite map |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |title = Union County Sheet 1 |year = 1967 |url = http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/UNION_COUNTY/UnionCoHighway1967_1.gif |access-date = February 13, 2010 }}

• {{cite map |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |title = Union County Sheet 2 |year = 1967 |url = http://mapmaker.rutgers.edu/UNION_COUNTY/UnionCoHighways1967_2.gif |access-date = February 13, 2010 }} thereby making the project further disliked.{{cite book |title = Arterial Progress 1959–1965 |publisher = Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority |year = 1965 }} By 1967, state officials decided not to pursue the continuation of I-278 and used the funds for I-278 to build I-195 across Central Jersey instead.{{cite book |title = New Jersey Highway Facts |publisher = New Jersey Department of Transportation |year = 1967 }} The only section of I-278 in New Jersey was built between US 1/9 in Linden and the Goethals Bridge, opening to traffic in 1969 at a cost of $11.5 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|11500000|1969}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).{{cite web |title = S.I.-to-Turnpike Link Is Opening Tomorrow |website = The New York Times |date = October 29, 1969 |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05E1DF103BE73ABC4151DFB6678382679EDE |access-date = September 27, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }}

File:2020-07-13 10 01 00 View west along Interstate 278 (Union Freeway) at Exit 3 (Interstate 95-New Jersey Turnpike, New Jersey State Route 439 NORTH TO U.S. Route 1-U.S. Route 9 NORTH, Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth) in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey.jpg

The Union Freeway Extension was revived in the late 1960s and was to start at US 1/9 but end at I-287 in Hanover Township, following Route 24 between I-78 and I-287. However, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) rejected the proposal in 1970, thus ending the I-278 project.{{cite book |title = Report on the Status of the Federal-Aid Highway Program |publisher = U.S. Senate Committee on Public Works |year = 1970 }}

The original four-lane Goethals Bridge, which predated the I-278 designation, was replaced with two new three-lane cable-stayed bridges, each carrying traffic in one direction. The new eastbound bridge opened to both directions of traffic in June 2017,{{cite web | last=Porpora | first=Tracey | title=Goethals Bridge now open in both directions | website=SILive.com | date=June 11, 2017 | url=http://www.silive.com/news/2017/06/goethals_bridge_now_open_in_bo.html | access-date=June 12, 2017}} and westbound traffic was shifted to the new westbound bridge in May 2018.{{Cite news|url=http://www.silive.com/news/2018/05/new_goethals_bridge_open_for_n.html|title=First a.m. rush hour for new Goethals Bridge to New Jersey|last=Grunlund|first=Maura|date=May 21, 2018|work=SILive.com|access-date=May 21, 2018|language=en-US}}

The SIE was first planned in 1941 as the Cross-Richmond Express Highway, a freeway connecting the Goethals and Verrazzano-Narrows bridges that was a part of a comprehensive system of freeways and parkways for the borough of Staten Island.{{cite book |title = Master Plan: Express Highways, Parkways and Major Streets |publisher = New York City Planning Department |year = 1941 }} In 1945, Robert Moses took over planning for the freeway and called it the Clove Lakes Expressway.{{cite book |title = Joint Study of Arterial Facilities |publisher = Port of New York Authority and Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority |year = 1955 }} The plan received approval in stages through the mid-1950s, and construction on the expressway began in 1959.{{cite news |last = Bennett |first = Charles G. |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F07E3DD153EE23BBC4851DFB066838C649EDE |title = Span Approaches Approved by City |newspaper = The New York Times |date = June 20, 1957 |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} By this time, the SIE had received the I-278 designation.

File:Staten Island Expressway new Exit 15.JPG

The construction of the SIE was particularly noted for the massive movement of earth required to build the section of the highway between Clove Road and Price Street (now Narrows Road North, a service road of the expressway) between Grymes Hill and Emerson Hill. The earth removed from the cut in the hill was placed in a remote section of central Staten Island adjacent to Sea View Hospital and has since been nicknamed "Moses Mountain".{{cite book |last = Caro |first = Robert A. |author-link = Robert Caro |title = The Power Broker |publisher = Vintage Books-Random House |year = 1974 |title-link = The Power Broker }} Originally, Moses intended for a spur of the expressway, the Richmond Parkway, to follow the central ridge of the island, connecting with the Outerbridge Crossing in the southwestern part of the island. However, there was massive local opposition to this spur, and, unlike previous projects by Moses, the northern half of the spur was canceled when Mayor John Lindsay took office in 1966. The southern half of this proposed spur was built, however. The aborted section, from the expressway to Richmond Avenue, has become a part of the Staten Island Greenbelt, one of New York City's public parks. A ramp stub of an interchange on the expressway, cut into the hills of Todt Hill, still exists. Part of the trail system of the greenbelt was using the abandoned overpass bridge as pedestrian crossing of the expressway up until 2013, when it was dismantled for lane widening improvements.

The first link of the SIE opened in January 1964, from the Goethals Bridge to Victory Boulevard. The remainder opened later that year. The freeway had a total cost of $47 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|47000000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1964/11/21/new-bridge-and-roads-will-save-time-trouble-and-tolls.html |title = New Bridge and Roads Will Save Time, Trouble and Tolls |last = Ingraham |first = Joseph C. |date = November 21, 1964 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 27, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} In 1998, bus lanes were created on the eastern part of the SIE near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge; they were extended west to Todt Hill Road/Slosson Avenue in 2005.{{cite news |title = Push Is On for Varied Road Tolls |newspaper = New York Daily News |date = November 23, 1998 }}{{cite news |last = Solomonow |first = Seth |title = New Bus Lanes Earn Cheers, Jeers from Motorists |newspaper = Staten Island Advance |date = November 27, 2005 }} In 2008, the bus lanes were opened to high-occupancy vehicles during rush hours.

In July 2008, officials announced a $50-million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|50000000|2008}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) project to improve the severe traffic conditions on a {{convert|1.8|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the expressway. Included in the project is the construction of six new on- and offramps, improvements to and relocations of existing on- and offramps, and other improvements to surrounding roads. This followed numerous minor alterations to alleviate traffic, such as time/distance displays and the designated bus lanes.{{cite news |newspaper = Staten Island Advance |title = State announces $50M project to improve X-way |date = August 1, 2008 }} Construction started in November 2010, with the project then expected to cost $75 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|75000000|2010}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).{{cite news |url = http://www.silive.com/news/2010/11/sie_forecast_pain_today_blue_s.html |title=Staten Island Expressway improvements set to begin — with inconveniences |last = Yates |first = Maura |newspaper = Staten Island Advance |date = November 22, 2017 |access-date = September 26, 2017 }} A new exit 15, which served Lily Pond Avenue and Bay Street on the eastern end of Staten Island, opened to traffic on July 9, 2012, replacing a former exit further to the east. Signage was also changed to display Fingerboard Road and Lily Pond Avenue as the outlet for the new exit, rather than Lily Pond Avenue and Bay Street.{{cite press release |access-date = August 26, 2012 |url = http://www.mta.info/mta/news/releases/?en=120706-BT69 |title = New Last Exit Before Brooklyn-bound Verrazano-Narrows Bridge In Place Beginning Mon., July 9th |publisher = MTA Bridges and Tunnels |date = July 6, 2012 |location = New York, New York }}{{cite news |url = http://www.silive.com/news/2012/07/new_exit_ramp_on_staten_island.html |title = A new exit ramp on Staten Island Expressway makes its debut |work = Staten Island Advance |date = July 9, 2012 |access-date = September 26, 2017 }} On January 17, 2013, westbound exit 13 was permanently closed in favor of a new interchange setup, which involved two new ramps: exit 13B for Richmond Road and Targee Street and exit 13A for Clove Road.{{cite news |last1 = Sedon |first1 = Michael |title = comments New Exit 13B opens on Staten Island Expressway |url = http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/01/new_entrances_opened_on_staten.html |access-date = August 1, 2014 |publisher = Staten Island Advanced |date = January 18, 2013 }}

File:Gowanus 1954.jpg|alt=An elevated four lane freeway in an urban area as it appeared in 1954]]

The Gowanus Expressway was initially the Gowanus Parkway, first planned in the 1930s.{{cite book |title = New Parkways in New York City |publisher = New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |year = 1937 }} Construction of the road, overseen by Robert Moses, started in 1939, with the parkway being built on top of the BMT Third Avenue Line. The parkway was completed in 1941 and became part of the Belt Parkway that received the NY 27A designation.{{Cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E03EFDE173BE430A7575AC2A9609C946093D6CF |title = MORE MOSES 'LOOPS' FORM; Parkway System Gets New Links Throughout City – Complete in 1943 |date = June 29, 1941 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 27, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} The Gowanus Parkway was to be reconstructed into the Gowanus Expressway in the 1950s to connect the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel. The first segment of the Gowanus Expressway, from the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel to the Prospect Expressway (NY 27), was opened in May 1950.{{cite web | title=NEW HIGHWAY LINK TO OPEN THURSDAY; No Ceremony to Mark Event at Queens Connecting Lane, Cashmore Announces | website=The New York Times | date=May 21, 1950 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/05/21/archives/new-highway-link-to-open-thursday-no-ceremony-to-mark-event-at.html | access-date=November 14, 2018}} The freeway was initially planned to be twelve lanes, with two three-lane roadways in each direction, but it was ultimately reduced to a six-lane highway to reduce disruption to the Bay Ridge neighborhood. The Gowanus Expressway was incorporated into the Interstate Highway System and became a component of I-278. The conversion of Gowanus Expressway to a six-lane freeway configuration was completed in 1964 at a cost of $100 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|100000000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}). The NY 27A designation was removed from the Gowanus Expressway by 1970.{{cite map |publisher = Chevron Oil Company |title = Map of Metropolitan New York |year = 1969 |cartography = H.M. Gousha }}{{cite map |publisher = Esso |title = Map of New Jersey |year = 1970 |cartography = General Drafting }}

By 2000, an HOV lane was added to the eastbound Gowanus Expressway to serve traffic heading toward Manhattan. Over the years, the viaduct structure of the Gowanus Expressway has deteriorated.{{cite news |last = Herman |first = Peter and Albert Appleton |title = Reconstructing the Gowanus: A Tunnel Is a Realistic Alternative to the Elevated Roadway |newspaper = New York Law Journal |date = November 13, 1996 }} In 1998, a $16-million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|16000000|1998}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) feasibility study for a tunnel for the Gowanus Expressway was awarded.{{cite news |last = Stamler |first = Bernard |title = Gowanus Expressway: Trouble Overhead |newspaper = The New York Times |date = December 13, 1998 |access-date = February 13, 2010 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/13/nyregion/gowanus-expressway-trouble-overhead.html?scp=1&sq=gowanus%20expressway%20tunnel&st=cse }} NYSDOT was considering putting the road in a tunnel,{{cite web |url = https://www.dot.ny.gov/portal/page/portal/regional-offices/region11/projects/gowanus-project/gowanus-project-iframe |title = Gowanus Project |publisher = New York State Department of Transportation |access-date = November 30, 2006 }} but, in November 2011, the FHWA canceled the project.{{cite news |title = Get used to the Gowanus! |author = Daniel Bush |url = http://www.brooklyndaily.com/stories/2011/48/all_gowanusfix_2011_11_11_bk.html |newspaper = Brooklyn Daily |date = December 1, 2011 |access-date = June 11, 2012 |archive-date = October 5, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121005081017/http://brooklyndaily.com/stories/2011/48/all_gowanusfix_2011_11_11_bk.html |url-status = dead }} The viaduct's vertical steel supports show material missing due to rust,{{cite web |url = http://www.kunstler.com/eyesore_201206.html |title = June 2012 Eyesore of the Month |author = James Howard Kunstler |date = June 1, 2012 |work = Eyesore of the Month |access-date = July 6, 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120706034648/http://www.kunstler.com/eyesore_201206.html |archive-date = July 6, 2012 }} but the federal government has stated that it is not in danger of collapse.{{cite news |title = Gowanus Expressway: History of a highway |author = Daniel Bush |url = http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/34/48/all_gowanusfixside_2011_11_11_bk.html |newspaper = The Brooklyn Paper |date = December 1, 2011 |access-date = June 11, 2012 }} In 2019, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) took over maintenance of the Gowanus Expressway from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

File:2024-05-22 12 33 13 View east along Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) from the overpass for Sackett Street in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.jpg

The BQE was initially planned in 1936 as the Brooklyn–Queens Connecting Highway, a link between the Gowanus Parkway and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.{{Cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D07E1DC123DE33BBC4B52DFB467838D629EDE |title = 'FREEWAY' IS NOW URGED; Protected Border Express Roads Advocated for New York Region |date = December 13, 1936 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 27, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} The brief portion of I-278 on the Grand Central Parkway, connecting the BQE and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, had opened in the 1930s.{{cite news |title = Motorists on the Road |date = September 5, 1937 |newspaper = The New York Times }} A part of the Brooklyn–Queens Connecting Highway, namely the Kosciuszko Bridge and the viaducts leading to the bridge, opened in 1939 between Meeker Avenue/Morgan Avenue and Queens Boulevard (NY 25).{{Cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C04E4DF1330E53ABC4C51DFBE668382629EDE |title = MAYOR OPENS SPAN WITH PEACE PLEA; Denounces Foes of Amity at Dedication of $13,194,399 Meeker Ave. Bridge SEES NEIGHBORLY SYMBOL Hatred Artificial, He Warns-- Brooklyn-Queens Link Gives New Routes |date = August 24, 1939 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }}

In 1940, Moses proposed an expressway between Queens and Brooklyn to relieve local streets of congestion from the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges.{{cite book |title = Vital Gaps in the New York Metropolitan Arterial System |publisher = Triborough Bridge Authority |year = 1940 }} The section between the Kosciuszko and Williamsburg bridges opened on May 25, 1950.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1950/05/21/archives/new-highway-link-to-open-thursday-no-ceremony-to-mark-event-at.html |title = NEW HIGHWAY LINK TO OPEN THURSDAY; No Ceremony to Mark Event at Queens Connecting Lane, Cashmore Announces |date = May 21, 1950 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} A further extension between the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel and the Brooklyn Bridge, which included the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, was opened on June 23, 1954, connecting to the Gowanus Expressway.{{cite web | title=3-LEVEL ROAD LINK IN BROOKLYN OPEN; Downtown Congestion Eased by $12,000,000 Section of 11-Mile Expressway STARK AND MOSES DIFFER Council Head Assails State on Highway Spending Here and Gets Quick Reply | website=The New York Times | date=June 23, 1954 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/06/23/archives/3level-road-link-in-brooklyn-open-downtown-congestion-eased-by.html | access-date=November 14, 2018}} This was followed by a mile-long ({{Convert|1|mi|km|disp=output only}}) section between the Williamsburg Bridge and Flushing Avenue on September 1, 1958.{{cite web | last=Stengren | first=Bernard | title=HIGHWAYS LINKED IN THREE COUNTIES; Units Costing $16,000,000 in Kings, Queens, Nassau Opened by Governor | website=The New York Times | date=September 1, 1958 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/10/01/archives/highways-linked-in-three-counties-units-costing-16000000-in-kings.html | access-date=November 14, 2018}} Two sections of the expressway opened on August 26, 1959: a segment between the Brooklyn Bridge and Tillary Street in Brooklyn and between the Grand Central Parkway and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens.{{cite web | last=Stengren | first=Bernard | title=Next-to-Last Brooklyn Section Of Expressway Open to Traffic; Brooklyn-Queens Link Runs to Civic Center – Park Ave. Lanes Due in Use in Fall | website=The New York Times | date=August 26, 1959 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1959/08/26/archives/nexttolast-brooklyn-section-of-expressway-open-to-traffic.html | access-date=November 14, 2018}} The expressway between Tillary Street and Flushing Avenue, around the Brooklyn Navy Yard, was opened shortly thereafter on January 6, 1960.{{cite web | title=EXPRESSWAY LINK IN BROOKLYN OPEN; Viaduct Near Navy Yard Put Into Service – Mayor Sees Road as Boon to Industry | website=The New York Times | date=January 6, 1960 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/01/06/archives/expressway-link-in-brooklyn-open-viaduct-near-navy-yard-put-into.html | access-date=November 14, 2018}} The road in its entirety was completed on December 23, 1964 at a cost of $137 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|137000000|1964}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}), with the opening of a mile-long ({{Convert|1|mi|km|disp=output only}}) underpass connecting Queens Boulevard with Roosevelt Avenue.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1964/12/23/brooklynqueens-link-to-be-completed-today.html |title = Brooklyn‐Queens Link To Be Completed Today |date = December 23, 1964 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} The major interchange with the Long Island Expressway was rebuilt in 1966 for $32.7 million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|32700000|1966}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).{{Cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D00E6DF123DE43BBC4951DFB366838D679EDE |title = $32-Million Queens Cloverleaf Approved by Board of Estimate; It Will Link Brooklyn-Queens and Long Island Expressways 50 Maspeth Homeowners Protest Vainly |date = May 21, 1966 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }}

File:2024-05-22 13 40 04 View west along Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) from the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.jpg

The construction of the BQE, overseen by Moses, tore through many residential neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens instead of following the East River.{{cite news |last = Liff |first = Bob |title = New York: Chess in Concrete |newspaper = Newsday |location = New York City |date = December 4, 1988 }} One portion of the expressway, the two-tiered promenade section in Brooklyn Heights that was designed by Moses, was originally planned to go straight through Hicks Street, then connect to the Brooklyn Bridge at Adams Street. Another route that was proposed by Moses would have continued up Hicks Street past Atlantic Avenue, removing all the buildings on one side of Court Street, then curving east into Tillary Street (at Cadman Plaza). The Brooklyn Heights Association was able to fight these proposed routes, which created the two-tiered section above Furman Street with the promenade over it.{{Cite journal |last = Farmer |first = W. Paul |date = July 3, 2015 |title = Alexander Garvin. (2013). The Planning Game: Lessons From Great Cities. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. |journal = Journal of the American Planning Association |volume = 81 |issue = 3 |pages = 238 |doi = 10.1080/01944363.2015.1077075 |s2cid = 154098092 |issn = 0194-4363 }} Several tunnels were later proposed to replace the promenade,{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/nyregion/25metjournal.html |title = Rebuilding the B.Q.E. Prompts 4 Tunnel Plans |last = Berger |first = Joseph |date = September 24, 2010 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} but none of the tunnel proposals were supported or funded.{{Cite web |url = https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160630/brooklyn-heights/tunnel-likely-wont-replace-crappy-bqe-brooklyn-hts-city-says |title = Tunnel Likely Won't Replace 'Crappy' BQE in Brooklyn Heights, City Says |last = Leon |first = Alexandra |date = June 30, 2016 |website = DNAinfo New York |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170926100711/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160630/brooklyn-heights/tunnel-likely-wont-replace-crappy-bqe-brooklyn-hts-city-says |archive-date = September 26, 2017 |url-status = dead |access-date = September 26, 2017 }}

In 1958, existing segments of the expressway were eligible for Interstate Highway funding. For a short time, the segment of highway between the Robert F. Kennedy and Williamsburg bridges was to be designated I-87 and continue north as the Major Deegan Expressway. By 1959, the I-278 designation was given to the entire length of the highway.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1958/09/19/archives/new-roads-with-new-numbers-will-parallel-old-us-routes.html |title = New Roads With New Numbers Will Parallel Old U.S. Routes |last = Wright |first = George Cable |date = September 19, 1958 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 26, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} Since the roadway was constructed prior to modern expressway standards, the road needed to be upgraded to meet these standards. By the 1990s, a major multiyear project beginning in the 1980s brought upgrades to the BQE.{{cite news |last = Faison |first = Seth |title = New Year Brings New Road Projects to Test Commuters' Patience |newspaper = The New York Times |date = January 4, 1993 |access-date = February 13, 2010 |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/04/nyregion/new-year-brings-new-road-projects-to-test-commuters-patience.html?scp=4&sq=brooklyn-queens%20expressway%20construction&st=cse }}

File:2024-05-24 12 36 30 View east along Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) from the overpass for 41st Avenue in Queens, New York City, New York.jpg

In the early 2000s, the expressway underwent another upgrade project that replaced the viaduct within Downtown Brooklyn and Fort Greene.{{cite news |title = Most Of BQE Upgrade To Be Completed By Sept. |newspaper = The Queens Gazette |date = February 25, 2004 |access-date = February 13, 2010 |url = http://www.qgazette.com/news/2004-02-25/Features/Most_Of_BQE_Upgrade_To_Be_Completed_By_Sept.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726141400/http://www.qgazette.com/news/2004-02-25/Features/Most_Of_BQE_Upgrade_To_Be_Completed_By_Sept.html |archive-date=July 26, 2011}} Simultaneously, the Queens section of the BQE between Queens Boulevard and 25th Avenue was also renovated.{{Cite news |url = http://www.qgazette.com/news/2004-06-23/features/004.html |title = BQE Renovations Near Completion |last = Cogan |first = Thomas |date = June 23, 2004 |work = Queens Gazette |access-date = December 26, 2016 }} The Koscisuzko Bridge was replaced from 2014 to 2017 with a new eastbound span that temporarily served both directions of traffic.{{Cite news |url = http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/kosciuszko-bridge-flashy-thursday-debut-featuring-cuomo-article-1.3089276 |title = Kosciuszko Bridge to make flashy Thursday debut, featuring Cuomo |last = Blain |first = Glenn |date = April 23, 2017 |work = NY Daily News |access-date = April 23, 2017 |language = en }} A second span of the Kosciuszko Bridge opened in 2019 for westbound traffic, adding more lanes to the BQE across the bridge.{{cite news | title=Second Span Of New Kosciuszko Bridge Officially Opens To Traffic | publisher=WCBS-TV | date=August 29, 2019 | url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2019/08/29/2nd-span-of-kosciuszko-bridge-set-to-open-to-traffic-today/ | access-date=August 29, 2019}}

Formerly, the frontage road of the Grand Central Parkway between the BQE and the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge served as a truck route, since large trucks are not permitted on the parkway. Exemptions are provided for smaller trucks that conform with strict regulations, but only on the section of the Grand Central Parkway that overlaps with I-278.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2015-06-08-truck-map-combined.pdf|title=New York City Truck Route Map|date=June 8, 2015|website=nyc.gov|publisher=New York City Department of Transportation|access-date=September 12, 2017|archive-date=February 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224152640/http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2015-06-08-truck-map-combined.pdf|url-status=dead}} In December 2017, the state concluded a $2.5-million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|2500000|2017}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) project that lowered the roadbed of the section of the parkway that is concurrent with I-278. This section of I-278 now has a {{Convert|14|ft|m|adj=on}} vertical clearance, which allows most trucks to stay on I-278.{{Cite web|url=http://qns.com/story/2017/12/15/trucks-will-permitted-grand-central-parkway-astoria-ending-soul-piercing-noise-local-streets/|title=Trucks will be permitted on Grand Central Parkway in Astoria, ending 'soul-piercing' noise on local streets — QNS.com|last=Matua|first=Angela|date=December 15, 2017|website=Queens Courier|language=en-US|access-date=December 24, 2017}} In late 2024, the NYCDOT began considering a plan to construct freeway caps above parts of the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway, as well as converting the spaces under the expressway into public plazas.{{cite web | last=Greenberg | first=Rebecca | title=DOT unveils project to improve areas along Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | website=Spectrum News NY1 | date=October 10, 2024 | url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/10/10/dot-unveils-project-to-improve-areas-along-bqe | access-date=October 11, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Frost | first=Mary | title=City releases report on fixes for BQE North and South | website=Brooklyn Eagle | date=October 10, 2024 | url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2024/10/10/city-releases-report-on-fixes-for-bqe-north-and-south/ | access-date=October 11, 2024}}

File:2024-06-19 16 32 07 View southwest along Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade from Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.jpg]]

In 1999, the think tank Reason Foundation proposed placing the BQE within Brooklyn Heights in a tunnel.{{cite book |last1 = Samuel |first1 = Peter |last2 = Poole Jr. |first2 = Robert W. |title = How To Build Our Way Out of Congestion |url = http://reason.org/files/cc99ab897989d16735ecf32af82ed15b.pdf |publisher = Reason Public Policy Institute |year = 1999 }} However, NYCDOT did not seriously consider this suggestion until 2016 when it studied six possible tunnel configurations. NYCDOT found that only the tunnel option starting at 21st Street on Third Avenue and ending near Kent Avenue in Williamsburg would be feasible. This option would have served as a bypass, with vehicles heading to Downtown Brooklyn, or the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges using the triple cantilever structure, which would be tolled.{{Cite book|url=https://9670f26306f0aa722eb1-bf8a0720b767c6949515361a19a9737f.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/uploads/document/document/86/Appendix_B_Tunnel_Feasibility_Study__NYCDOT__2016.pdf|title=BQE Tunnel 3-D Feasibility Study Volume I- Report|date=April 2016|publisher=New York City Department of Transportation}} At the same time, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade was deteriorating significantly and was set to undergo renovations starting 2020.{{Cite news |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/28/nyregion/dreaded-by-drivers-brooklyn-queens-expressway-is-set-for-repairs.html |title = Dreaded by Drivers, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Is Set for Repairs |last = Hu |first = Winnie |date = November 28, 2016 |newspaper = The New York Times |issn = 0362-4331 |access-date = December 26, 2016 }} The structure is supported by steel rods inside rebar, which is corroding due to the seeping of road salt into widening cracks. If nothing was done on the roadway by 2026, weight restrictions would have to be implemented, with trucks diverted to local roads, and, by 2036, the city would have to shut down this section of the BQE.

In late 2018, NYSDOT proposed rebuilding the double-decker, {{convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} section of I-278 running under the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, which had deteriorated severely over the years. Two options were proposed. The cheaper option, which would cost $3.3 billion to $3.6 billion (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|3300000000|2018}}}} to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|3600000000|2018}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) and take six years, entailed building a temporary six-lane highway in the location of the promenade while they repaired the underlying structure.{{Cite web|url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/9/22/bqe-rehab-plan-would-replace-brooklyn-heights-promenade-6-lane-highway|title=BQE rehab plan would replace Brooklyn Heights Promenade with 6-lane highway {{!}} Brooklyn Daily Eagle|website=www.brooklyneagle.com|last=Frost|first=Mary|date=September 22, 2018 |language=en|access-date=October 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-york-city-will-consider-new-option-for-bqe-in-brooklyn-heights-1538158476|title=New York City Will Consider New Option for BQE in Brooklyn Heights|last=Berger|first=Paul|date=September 28, 2018|website=WSJ|access-date=October 5, 2018}} Under this option, lanes would be widened, and shoulders would have been added. In conjunction with the project, NYCDOT hoped to unify Van Voorhees Park, improve safety at the interchange with Atlantic Avenue, and possibly build a pedestrian bridge from Brooklyn Bridge Park to the promenade.{{Cite news|url=https://www.amny.com/transit/brooklyn-queens-expressway-construction-1.21179439|title=Brooklyn-Queens Expressway's proposed improvements could be disastrously disruptive|last=Barone|first=Vincent|date=September 20, 2018|work=AM New York|access-date=March 14, 2019}} The other, more expensive option, which would cost $3.4 billion to $4 billion (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|3400000000|2018}}}} to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|4000000000|2018}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}) and take over eight years, was to repair the existing six-lane highway one lane at a time.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/nyregion/brooklyn-queens-expressway.html|title=The Famed Brooklyn Heights Promenade May Close for Years. Here's Why.|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=October 4, 2018|website=The New York Times|access-date=October 5, 2018}} The promenade walkway would be closed for up to six years under the first option and for two years under the second option, with periodic closures for construction use. The NYCDOT commissioner, Polly Trottenberg, called the project "the most challenging project not only in New York City, but arguably in the United States right now".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/05/nyregion/brooklyn-heights-is-fighting-robert-moses-again.html|title=Brooklyn Heights Is Fighting Robert Moses Again|last=Bellafante|first=Ginia|date=October 5, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 14, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} For the project, $1.7 billion in city funding was allocated, with the remainder to be footed from the state and federal governments.

File:2024-06-19 16 22 15 View of Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) and the southwest end of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade from Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.jpg]]

Because of sizable opposition to demolishing the promenade, mayor Bill de Blasio later stated that his administration was open to considering other ideas, including routing the expressway over Brooklyn Bridge Park.{{cite web | title=De Blasio softens support for plan that would turn Brooklyn Heights Promenade into 6-lane highway | website=Brooklyn Daily Eagle | last=Frost | first=Mary | date=October 22, 2018 | url=http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/10/22/de-blasio-softens-support-plan-would-turn-brooklyn-heights-promenade-6-lane | access-date=October 24, 2018}} Hundreds of people, including Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and City Comptroller Scott Stringer, rallied on the promenade, calling for more public review. Local residents are strongly opposed to the construction of the temporary six-lane highway as it would run right up against their homes. In response, the Brooklyn Heights Association came up with an alternate plan, which called for the construction of a temporary bilevel roadway running besides the promenade on land including a parking lot.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/24/nyregion/brooklyn-promenade-l-train.html|title=The L Train Shutdown Was Averted. Can the Brooklyn Promenade Stay Open Too?|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=January 24, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 14, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}

Support for reducing the size of or tearing down the BQE increased, with articles in New York and The Wall Street Journal calling for the removal of the highway. They noted how the removal of highways in other cities improved local neighborhoods and led to economic development.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/heres-a-possible-fix-for-the-brooklyn-queens-expressway-tear-it-down-1541516581|title=Here's a Possible Fix for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway: Tear It Down|last=Kadet|first=Anne|date=November 6, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=March 14, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}}{{Cite web|url=http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/heres-a-solution-for-fixing-the-bqe-get-rid-of-it.html|title=Here's a Solution for Fixing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway: Get Rid of It|last=Davidson|first=Justin|date=December 10, 2018|website=Intelligencer|language=en|access-date=March 14, 2019}} Commissioner Trottenberg had dismissed calls to tear down the highway saying that the city got most of its freight by truck and that "For better or for worse, these Moses-built highways [...] now the city has grown around them and it's not an option to just say we can't deal with that traffic." City Council Speaker Corey Johnson called for the city to study alternatives, including the removal of the BQE in its entirety, in his State of the City address.{{Cite book|url=http://council.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LetsGo_Transit_Report.pdf|title=Let's Go: A Case for Municipal Control and a Comprehensive Transportation Vision for the Five Boroughs|date=March 5, 2019|publisher=New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson|access-date=March 14, 2019|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306155955/http://council.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LetsGo_Transit_Report.pdf|url-status=dead}} On March 13, 2019, Stringer issued a plan calling for converting the triple cantilever structure and the open cut in Cobble Hill into a truck-only highway between Hamilton Avenue in Carroll Gardens and the Brooklyn Bridge. Under the plan, only the bottom level would be rebuilt and then be decked over by a linear park and boulevard. The report expected passenger vehicles to be diverted into the underused Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel, whose tolls might be lowered when congestion pricing in New York City was implemented.{{Cite web|url=https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/comptroller-stringer-proposes-new-vision-for-bqe-reconstruction/|title=Comptroller Stringer Proposes New Vision for BQE Reconstruction|date=March 13, 2019|website=comptroller.nyc.gov|publisher=Office of the New York City Comptroller|access-date=March 14, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/BQE-Proposal-Comptroller-Stringer.pdf|title=A New Vision for Brooklyn, A New Vision for the BQE|date=March 13, 2019|website=comptroller.nyc.gov|publisher=Office of the New York City Comptroller|access-date=March 14, 2019}} In early April, de Blasio announced that he would create a panel to formally evaluate each alternative and that the panel's evaluations would end by mid-2019.{{Cite web|url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/04/03/city-creates-expert-panel-to-evaluate-bqe-reconstruction/|title=City creates expert panel to evaluate BQE reconstruction|last=Frost|first=Mary|date=April 3, 2019|website=Brooklyn Eagle|language=en-US|access-date=April 4, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.crainsnewyork.com/transportation/de-blasio-slams-brakes-bqe-reconstruction|title=De Blasio slams brakes on BQE reconstruction|last=Bredderman|first=Will|date=April 3, 2019|website=Crain's New York Business|language=en|access-date=April 4, 2019}} In February 2020, officials proposed a {{convert|3|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} tunnel from the Gowanus Expressway to Flushing Avenue. The proposal was expected to cost $11 billion, to be paid by tolls.{{cite web | title=Cross Downtown Brooklyn Tunnel idea revived as BQE solution | website=Brooklyn Eagle | last=Frost | first=Mary | date=February 25, 2019 | url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/02/25/cross-downtown-brooklyn-tunnel-idea-revived-as-bqe-solution/ | access-date=August 31, 2021}}

In late 2021, the section between Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn Bridge was reduced from three to two lanes per direction, a move that city officials said could prolong the viaduct's life by 20 years. The city also planned to ticket overweight vehicles.{{cite web | last=Chang | first=Sophia | title=City To Reduce Lanes In Crumbling Stretch Of Brooklyn-Queens Expressway During Planned Repairs | website=Gothamist | date=August 28, 2021 | url=https://gothamist.com/news/city-reduce-lanes-crumbling-stretch-brooklyn-queens-expressway-during-planned-repairs | access-date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web | last=James | first=Cory | title=Lane Changes On Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Greet Drivers During Monday Morning's Commute | website=CBS New York – Breaking News, Sports, Weather, Traffic And The Best of NY | date=August 30, 2021 | url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2021/08/30/brooklyn-queens-expressway-bqe-lane-changes-new-york-city-department-of-transportation/ | access-date=August 31, 2021}} There was still no long-term plan for the viaduct by mid-2022,{{Cite news|last=Hu|first=Winnie|date=June 13, 2022|title=The B.Q.E. Is Crumbling. There's Still No Plan to Fix It.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/13/nyregion/brooklyn-queens-expressway-construction-plan.html|access-date=June 16, 2022|issn=0362-4331}} but three preliminary plans for the highway's reconstruction were announced in December 2022.{{cite web | title=SEE IT: NYC reveals preliminary designs for BQE rehab | website=Brooklyn Eagle | last=Frost | first=Mary | date=December 15, 2022 | url=https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2022/12/14/see-it-nyc-reveals-preliminary-designs-for-bqe-rehab/ | access-date=December 17, 2022}}{{cite web | title=NYC traffic: City reveals preliminary plan to fix crumbling section of BQE in Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo | website=ABC7 New York | last=Miles | first=Darla | date=December 14, 2022 | url=https://abc7ny.com/bqe-traffic-nyc-brooklyn/12570265/ | access-date=December 17, 2022}} NYCDOT formally presented the three plans to the public in February 2023,{{cite web | last=Chan | first=Shirley | title=NYC DOT held virtual workshop to talk Brooklyn-Queens Expressway proposals | website=PIX11 | date=March 3, 2023 | url=https://pix11.com/news/local-news/brooklyn/nyc-dot-held-virtual-workshop-to-talk-brooklyn-queens-expressway-proposals/ | access-date=March 4, 2023}}{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=BQE's crumbling cantilever: City again considering 'temporary highway' to redirect traffic during reconstruction | website=amNewYork | date=March 1, 2023 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/bqe-cantilever-temporary-highway-construction-idea-2023/ | access-date=March 4, 2023}} and city officials began issuing summonses to overweight vehicles in August of that year.{{cite web |last=Brachfeld |first=Ben |date=August 7, 2023 |title=Overweight trucks on BQE will be hit with fines starting November, warnings begin Thursday |url=https://www.amny.com/transit/city-enforcement-overweight-trucks-on-bqe/ |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=amNewYork}}{{cite web |last=Manna |first=Victoria |date=August 7, 2023 |title=City to begin fining overweight trucks on aging Brooklyn-Queens Expressway |url=https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/traffic_and_transit/2023/08/08/city-to-begin-fining-overweight-trucks-on-aging-brooklyn-queens-expressway |access-date=August 8, 2023 |website=Spectrum News NY1}} In February 2024, the Federal Highway Administration rejected the city's request for $800 million to redesign and rebuild the cantilever.{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=Feds reject city's $800M grant applications to redesign crumbling BQE cantilever | website=amNewYork | date=February 6, 2024 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/feds-reject-grants-crumbling-bqe-cantilever/ | access-date=February 7, 2024}} By the next month, no design had been finalized,{{cite web | last=Baird-Remba | first=Rebecca | title=Gridlocked: Brooklyn Heights BQE Redesign Is Stuck in Limbo | website=Commercial Observer | date=March 13, 2024 | url=https://commercialobserver.com/2024/03/gridlocked-brooklyn-heights-bqe-redesign-is-stuck-in-limbo/ | access-date=May 11, 2024}} and the start date for the triple cantilever's reconstruction had been postponed to 2028.{{cite web | title=Reconstruction work on triple-cantilever portion of BQE pushed back to 2028 | website=Spectrum News NY1 | date=May 8, 2024 | url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2024/05/08/reconstruction-work-on-triple-cantilever-portion-of-bqe-pushed-back-to-2028 | access-date=May 11, 2024}}{{cite web | last=Brachfeld | first=Ben | title=Major BQE reconstruction not expected until 2028: NYC | website=amNewYork | date=May 8, 2024 | url=https://www.amny.com/transit/major-bqe-reconstruction-work-delayed-adams/ | access-date=May 11, 2024}} The vehicle restrictions had reduced the number of overweight vehicles on the cantilever by 60% by early 2025.{{Cite news |last=Barron |first=James |date=2025-03-04 |title=For Once, Good News About the B.Q.E. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/nyregion/bqe-trucks-sensors-traffic.html |access-date=2025-03-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{cite web |last=Brendlen |first=Kirstyn |date=March 4, 2025 |title=Weigh-in-motion tech has cut overweight trucks on BQE by 60%, city says, urging state to extend program • Brooklyn Paper |url=https://www.brooklynpaper.com/weigh-in-motion-reduces-overweight-trucks-bqe/ |access-date=March 6, 2025 |website=Brooklyn Paper}}

File:I678bruckner.jpg]]

The Bruckner Expressway was originally Bruckner Boulevard, designated as part of NY 1A.{{cite book |last = Thibodeau |first = William A. |title = The ALA Green Book |edition = 1938–39 |year = 1938 |publisher = Automobile Legal Association }}{{cite map |title = New York Info-Map |publisher = Gulf Oil Company |year = 1940 |cartography = Rand McNally and Company }}{{cite map |title = New York |publisher = Esso |year = 1940 |cartography = General Drafting }} In the 1930s, a freeway was planned on the Bruckner Boulevard alignment in order to provide a connection between the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and a freeway leading north into Westchester County. Moses took over planning for the road in 1951 and called for an elevated freeway between the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge and the Bronx River and a depressed freeway east of there.{{cite book |title = Traffic Improvement of Bruckner Boulevard |publisher = Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority |year = 1951 }} Construction on the elevated segment of the Bruckner Expressway began in 1957 and on the depressed segment in 1959. The depressed portion was opened in 1961 while the elevated portion of the Bruckner Expressway was opened in 1962.{{Cite news |url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A00E0DB123CE63ABC4052DFB6678389679EDE |title = ELEVATED ROAD TO OPEN IN BRONX; 2.4-Mile Viaduct Will Help Speed Bruckner Traffic to New England Area |date = October 18, 1962 |work = The New York Times |access-date = September 27, 2017 |language = en-US |issn = 0362-4331 }} In 1972, the large Bruckner Interchange was finished, completing the route.{{cite web |url = https://www.nytimes.com/1972/12/21/archives/the-bruckner-interchange-open-at-last.html |title = The Bruckner Interchange Open at Last |last = Prial |first = Frank J. |date = December 21, 1972 |website = The New York Times |access-date = September 27, 2017 }}

Over the years, the I-278 portion of the Bruckner Expressway has had different designations. When the Interstate Highway System was first created, the road was to be part of I-895 from I-87 to the Sheridan Expressway and I-678 from there to I-95. Later, I-278 was planned to follow the Bruckner Expressway from I-87 to the Sheridan Expressway, where it would continue on that freeway to I-95, while the Bruckner Expressway was not designated an Interstate north of there. By 1970, I-278 was routed onto its current alignment, with I-895 (now NY 895) created along the Sheridan Expressway.

{{-}}

Multiple express buses operated by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority operate along I-278:

• The {{NYC bus link|SIM1|SIM1C|SIM2|SIM3|SIM3C|SIM4|SIM4C|SIM5|SIM6|SIM7|SIM9|SIM10|SIM11|SIM15|SIM31|SIM32|SIM33|SIM33C|SIM34|SIM35|prose=y}} Staten Island express routes operate on the Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Gowanus Expressway.{{cite NYC bus map|S}}
• The {{NYC bus link|SIM8|SIM25|SIM26|SIM30|prose=y}} Staten Island express routes operate over the Goethals Bridge.
• The {{NYC bus link|BM1|BM2|BM3|BM4|X27|X28|X37|X38|prose=y}} Brooklyn express routes operate on the Gowanus Expressway.{{cite NYC bus map|B}}
• The {{NYC bus link|BxM6|BxM7|BxM8|BxM9|BxM10|BxM11|prose=y}} Bronx express routes operate on the Bruckner Expressway.{{cite NYC bus map|Bx}}

The {{NYC bus link|S79 SBS|S53|S93|prose=y}} local routes operate over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. In addition, the {{NYC bus link|B24}} local bus operates on the Kosciuszko Bridge; the {{NYC bus link|Q70 SBS}} operates over a small section of the Brooklyn–Queens Expressway; and the {{NYC bus link|M60 SBS}} operates on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge.{{Cite NYC bus map|Q}}

{{jcttop|old|state_col=state|length_ref=
{{cite web |url = https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/Traffic%20Volume%20Report%202010.pdf |access-date = April 9, 2012 |title = 2010 Traffic Volume Report for New York State |date = July 25, 2011 |pages = 204–205 |publisher = New York State Department of Transportation |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120927164825/https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/Traffic%20Volume%20Report%202010.pdf |archive-date = September 27, 2012 }}{{google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/40.6358516,-74.1969629/40.8290629,-73.8360389/@40.7146294,-74.0497907,11.81z/data=!4m9!4m8!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-73.9291481!2d40.7276559!3s0x89c25eb61cdf0ed7:0x8c34b0c77c43aae7!1m0!3e0 |title=Interstate 278 (New York) |access-date=January 6, 2017}}

• {{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/HighwayInventory-RichmondCounty-2016.zip |title=Richmond County Inventory Listing |date=August 7, 2015 |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |format=CSV |access-date=September 5, 2017 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/HighwayInventory-KingsCounty-2016.zip |title=Kings County Inventory Listing |date=August 7, 2015 |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |format=CSV |access-date=September 5, 2017 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/HighwayInventory-QueensCounty-2016.zip |title=Queens County Inventory Listing |date=August 7, 2015 |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |format=CSV |access-date=September 5, 2017 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/HighwayInventory-NewYorkCounty-2016.zip |title=New York County Inventory Listing |date=August 7, 2015 |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |format=CSV |access-date=September 5, 2017 }}
• {{cite web |url=https://www.dot.ny.gov/divisions/engineering/technical-services/hds-respository/HighwayInventory-BronxCounty-2016.zip |title=Bronx County Inventory Listing |date=August 7, 2015 |publisher=New York State Department of Transportation |format=CSV |access-date=September 5, 2017 }}}}

{{NJint|old

|sspan=4

|county=Union

|cspan=4

|location=Linden

|mile=0.00

|exit=

|road={{jct|state=NJ|US|1-9|dir1=south}}

|notes=Western terminus

}}

{{NJint|old

|location=Elizabeth

|lspan=3

|mile=0.87

|exit=

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|road|Brunswick Avenue|city1=Elizabeth|city2=Linden}}

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; last eastbound exit before toll

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=0.99

|mile2=1.31

|mspan=2

|exit=

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NJ|I-Toll|95|NJTP2}}

|notes=Exit 13 on I-95 / Turnpike

}}

{{NJint|old

|mile=none

|exit=3

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NJ|NJ|439|dir1=north|name1=Bayway Avenue|to2=to|US|1-9|dir2=north|city1=Elizabeth}}

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound left entrance; signed as exits 3B (north) and 3C (east); southern terminus of Route 439; former Route 28

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=Arthur Kill

|river_wide=yes

|mile=2.00

|mile2=0.00

|line=y

|type=etc

|bridge=Goethals Bridge (eastbound toll; E-ZPass or pay-by-plate)

}}

{{NYCint|old

|state=NY

|sspan=61

|county=Staten Island

|cspan=14

|location=Bloomfield

|borough=Staten Island

|lspan=4

|mile=1.60

|exit=4

|espan=2

|ospan=2

|type=incomplete

|road=Western Avenue

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint

|mile=1.70

|type=incomplete

|road=Forest Avenue

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; former NY 439

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=1.83

|exit=5

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|440|dir1=south|name1=West Shore Expressway|location1=Outerbridge Crossing}}

|notes=Western end of NY 440 concurrency

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=1.90

|exit=6

|type=incomplete

|road=South Avenue

|notes=Westbound exit only

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location2=Graniteville

|location1=Bulls Head

|lspan=3

|borough=Staten Island

|mile=2.04

|exit=7

|road=Richmond Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=2.74

|mile2=2.93

|mspan=2

|exit=8 (EB)
10 (WB)

|road=Victory Boulevard

|notes=Former NY 439A

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=none

|exit=9

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|440|dir1=north|name1=Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Expressway|location1=Bayonne Bridge}}

|notes=Eastern end of NY 440 concurrency; exit 10E on NY 440; to Cape Liberty Cruise Port

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location2=Castleton Corners

|location1=Manor Heights

|lspan=2

|borough=Staten Island

|mile=3.44

|exit=11

|road=Bradley Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=4.78

|exit=12

|road=Todt Hill Road / Slosson Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location2=Sunnyside

|location1=Emerson Hill

|borough=Staten Island

|mile=5.73

|exit=13

|road=Clove Road / Richmond Road / Targee Street

|notes=Signed as exits 13A (Clove Road) and 13B (Richmond/Targee) westbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location1=Grasmere

|location2=Park Hill

|borough=Staten Island

|mile=7.34

|exit=14

|road=Hylan Boulevard

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location1=Grasmere

|location2=Rosebank

|borough=Staten Island

|lspan=3

|mile=7.58

|mspan=3

|exit=15W

|type=incomplete

|road= Narrows Road west to Fingerboard Road

|notes=Lower level only; westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=none

|exit=15S

|road=Lily Pond Avenue south to Father Capodanno Boulevard

|notes=Lower level only; signed as exit 15 eastbound; last eastbound exit before toll

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=none

|exit=15N

|type=incomplete

|road=Bay Street – Fort Wadsworth

|notes=Lower level only; eastbound exit is via exit 15

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=The Narrows

|type=etc

|mile=8.88

|bridge=Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge (toll; E-ZPass or pay-by-plate)

}}

{{NYCint|old

|county=Brooklyn

|cspan=22

|location=Bay Ridge

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=4

|mile=8.64

|exit=16

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Belt|extra=airport|dir1=east|location1=John F. Kennedy International Airport}}

|notes=Eastbound left exit and westbound left entrance; exit 3 on Belt Parkway

}}

{{NYCint|old

|lspan=3

|mile=9.84

|exit=17

|road=92nd Street

|notes=Last westbound exit before toll

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=10.47

|exit=18

|type=incomplete

|road=Fort Hamilton Parkway

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=10.89

|exit=19

|type=incomplete

|road=86th Street

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Sunset Park

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=3

|mile=11.18

|exit=20

|road=6th Avenue / 7th Avenue / 65th Street

|notes=Signed for 6th Avenue westbound, 7th Avenue eastbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=11.93

|exit=21

|type=incomplete

|road=3rd Avenue

|notes=No westbound exit

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=12.65

|exit=22

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Belt|dir1=east|location1=Queens}}

|notes=Westbound left exit and eastbound entrance; western terminus of Belt Parkway

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Greenwood Heights

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=2

|mile=13.92

|exit=23

|type=incomplete

|road=38th Street / 39th Street

|notes=No entrance ramps; signed for 38th Street eastbound, 39th Street westbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=14.29

|exit=24

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|27|dir1=east|name1=Prospect Expressway}}

|notes=No westbound entrance; western terminus of NY 27

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Red Hook

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=2

|mile=15.06

|old=26A

|exit=25

|type=toll

|road={{jct|state=NY|to1=yes|road|Hugh L. Carey Tunnel|location1=Manhattan}}

|notes=No westbound exit; access via I-478

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=15.14

|old=26B

|exit=26

|road=Hamilton Avenue to Hugh L. Carey Tunnel

|notes=Access to Hugh L. Carey Tunnel via I-478; no eastbound access to Hugh L. Carey Tunnel

|type=incomplete

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Brooklyn Heights

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=2

|mile=16.12

|exit=27

|road=Atlantic Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=16.74

|exit=28A

|road=Cadman Plaza West

|type=incomplete

|notes=No eastbound entrance; signed as exit 28 westbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Downtown Brooklyn

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=3

|mile=17.20

|exit=28B

|type=etc

|road=Brooklyn Bridge

|notes=Eastbound exit only

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=17.47

|exit=29A

|type=etc

|road=Manhattan Bridge

|notes=No westbound exit

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=18.10

|exit=29

|road={{jct|state=NY|road|Tillary Street|location1=Brooklyn Civic Center|location2=Manhattan Bridge|location3=Holland Tunnel}}

|notes=No westbound entrance

|type=incomplete

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Clinton Hill

|borough=Brooklyn

|mile=18.68

|exit=30

|type=incomplete

|road=Flushing Avenue

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Williamsburg

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=3

|mile=19.32

|exit=31

|type=incomplete

|road=Wythe Avenue / Kent Avenue

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=19.85

|exit=32A

|type=etc

|road=Williamsburg Bridge – Manhattan

|notes=Westbound left exit and eastbound left entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=20.41

|exit=32B

|type=incomplete

|road=Metropolitan Avenue

|notes=No eastbound entrance; signed as exit 32 eastbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Greenpoint

|borough=Brooklyn

|lspan=2

|mile=20.60

|exit=33

|type=incomplete

|road=Humboldt Street / McGuinness Boulevard

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=21.80

|exit=34

|type=incomplete

|road=Meeker Avenue / Morgan Avenue

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=Newtown Creek

|mile=22.10

|bridge=Kosciuszko Bridge

}}

{{NYCint|old

|county=Queens

|cspan=9

|location=Long Island City

|borough=Queens

|mile=21.80

|mile2=22.90

|exit=35

|road={{jct|state=NY|I|495|name1=Long Island Expressway|road|48th Street / Greenpoint Avenue|location1=Queens-Midtown Tunnel|location2=Eastern Long Island}}

|notes=Signed as exits 35A (west) and 35B (east); exits 17W-E on I-495

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Woodside

|borough=Queens

|lspan=2

|mile=23.30

|old=36

|exit=39

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|25|name1=Queens Boulevard|road|65th Place / 58th Street}}

|notes=Signed as exits 39E (east) and 39W (west) westbound

}}

{{NYCint|old

|lspan=2

|mile=23.87

|old=37

|exit=40

|road=Broadway / Roosevelt Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Jackson Heights

|borough=Queens

|lspan=1

|mile=24.48

|old=38

|exit=41

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

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=East Elmhurst

|borough=Queens

|lspan=2

|mile=24.66

|old=39

|exit=42

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|to1=to|Parkway|Grand Central|dir1=east|location1=LaGuardia Airport|extra=airport}}

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=25.30

|old=40

|exit=43

|type=incomplete

|road=30th Avenue

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Astoria

|borough=Queens

|lspan=3

|mile=25.57

|mspan=2

|old=41

|exit=44

|type=incomplete

|road=Astoria Boulevard west

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=none

|type=concur

|old=

|exit=4

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Grand Central|dir1=east|location1=LaGuardia Airport|extra=airport}}

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; western end of Grand Central Parkway concurrency; exit number not signed

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=26.37

|old=3

|exit=45

|road=31st Street / Astoria Boulevard
{{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Grand Central|dir1=ends}}

|notes=No eastbound access to Astoria Boulevard; western terminus of Grand Central Parkway; last eastbound exit before toll

|type=concur

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=East River

|mile=27.11

|type=etc

|bridge=Robert F. Kennedy Bridge suspension span (eastbound toll)

}}

{{NYCint|old

|county=Manhattan

|cspan=2

|location_special=Randalls Island

|lspan=2

|mile=27.58

|exit=46A

|type=incomplete

|road=Randalls Island, Icahn Stadium

|notes=Westbound exit only; access via Hell Gate Circle

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=28.18

|type=incomplete

|exit=46

|road=Manhattan, Randalls Island

|notes=Access to Manhattan via NY 900G; access to Randalls Island via Central Road; no westbound access to Randalls Island

}}

{{jctbridge|old

|river=Hell Gate

|mile=28.60

|type=etc

|bridge=Robert F. Kennedy Bridge truss span (westbound toll)

}}

{{NYCint|old

|county=Bronx

|cspan=10

|location=Port Morris

|borough=Bronx

|lspan=2

|mile=28.89

|old=44

|exit=47

|road={{jct|state=NY|I|87|dir1=north|name1=Major Deegan Expressway|city1=Albany}}

|notes=Southern terminus of I-87; former NY 1B; last westbound exit before toll

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=29.49

|old=45

|exit=48

|type=incomplete

|road=East 138th Street

|notes=Eastbound exit and entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|borough=Bronx

|location=Hunts Point

|lspan=3

|old=

|exit=48

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|road|Leggett Avenue|location1=Hunts Point Market}}

|notes=Westbound exit and entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=30.78

|old=46

|exit=49

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|NY|895|dir1=north|name1=Sheridan Boulevard}} to East 177th Street

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; southern terminus of NY 895; former I-895

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=31.18

|exit=50

|type=incomplete

|road=Tiffany Street

|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Soundview

|borough=Bronx

|lspan=2

|mile=31.48

|exit=51

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|road|Bronx River Avenue}}

|notes=Westbound exit only

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=31.58

|old=51

|exit=52

|type=incomplete

|road={{jct|state=NY|Parkway|Bronx River NYC|dir1=north|city1=White Plains}}

|notes=No westbound exit; exits 2E-W on Bronx River Parkway

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location=Unionport

|borough=Bronx

|mile=32.35

|old=52

|exit=53

|road=White Plains Road / Castle Hill Avenue

}}

{{NYCint|old

|location_special=Throggs Neck
(Bruckner Interchange)

|borough=Bronx

|lspan=2

|type=incomplete

|exit=54

|road={{jct|state=NY|I|295|dir1=south|location1=Throgs Neck Bridge|I|678|dir2=south|location2=Whitestone Bridge|Parkway|Hutchinson River|dir3=north|road|Zerega Avenue}}

|notes=Eastbound exit and westbound entrance; exit 12 on I-295; exit 19W on I-678; exit 1A on Hutchinson Parkway

}}

{{NYCint|old

|mile=33.62

|exit=

|road={{jct|state=NY|I|95|dir1=north|name1=Bruckner Expressway|location1=New Haven, CT}}

|notes=Eastern terminus; exit 6B on I-95

}}

{{jctbtm|col=9|keys=concur,incomplete,toll,unbuilt}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{Attached KML|display=title,inline}}

{{NYSR external links|type=I|nyroutes=yes|route=278|alps=yes}}

• [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/I-278_NJ/ Union Freeway @ NYCROADS.com]
• [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/staten-island/ Staten Island Expressway @ NYCROADS.com]
• [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/gowanus/ Gowanus Expressway @ NYCROADS.com]
• [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/brooklyn-queens/ BQE @ NYCROADS.com]
• [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/bruckner/ Bruckner Expressway @ NYCROADS.com]

{{3di|78}}{{Portal bar|U.S. Roads|New Jersey|New York (state)|New York City}}

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Category:Transportation in Staten Island

Category:Transportation in Brooklyn

Category:Highways in Queens, New York

Category:Transportation in Manhattan

Category:Highways in the Bronx

Category:Transportation in Union County, New Jersey

Category:Articles containing video clips

Category:Expressways in New York City