Why does the sign over the westbound Bruckner Expwy for the Third Ave Bridge give the wrong exit?

September 25, 2007 4:21 PM

Has NYC put an incorrect sign on the westbound Bruckner Expressway to trick visitors into taking the Triborough Bridge instead of the toll-free Third Avenue Bridge into Manhattan?

Let's say you're driving west on the Bruckner Expressway having come from New England somewhere, and your destination is in Manhattan. You've been told that the Third Avenue Bridge is free, whereas the Triborough Bridge will cost you $4.50 and is often backed up at the tolls, so you'd prefer to take the Third Avenue Bridge. So when you see the sign just past the Bruckner drawbridge that reads "Exit 44 - I-87 Deegan Expwy / Third Ave Br / Upstate" you start looking for exit 44.

Sucker! Unfortunately for you, the actual signs for the exit that takes you to the Third Avenue Bridge read "Exit 47 - I-87 North / Major Deegan Expwy / Upstate" - both there and here. They doesn't mention the bridge, and you certainly don't want to go upstate! So you stay on the Bruckner waiting for exit 44 and find yourself seconds later on the Triborough Bridge and out $4.50; if you take the Triboro into Queens you'll eventually come to exit 44 about 4 miles later where the Grand Central Parkway splits off.

WTF NYC?

posted by nicwolff to travel & transportation (8 comments total)

Yes.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:38 PM on September 25, 2007

Signage is often driven by capacity and traffic flow considerations, more so than cost to the driver. If the 3rd ave bridge has less capacity, or a less effective traffic flow, the sign might be more about preventing traffic jams, than pure revenue generation.

Here in Seattle, signs for highway access rarely give the most direct route by distance, but usually are pretty efficient in terms of overall throughput of the roads in question.
posted by nomisxid at 4:46 PM on September 25, 2007

Not malice, just incompetence. Those exits were renumbered at least 5 years ago. (misc.transport.road post)

Locals don't use the numbers, so no one cares.
posted by smackfu at 5:01 PM on September 25, 2007

There are many signs in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn that I have noted over the years and thought, "That sign is to direct tourist traffic away from the most congested routes." The most egregious of these are labeled simply "Manhattan" with a picture of two skyscrapers; following these will generally take you 20 to 30 miles out of your way.
posted by ikkyu2 at 5:01 PM on September 25, 2007

basically, mostly-ignore the signage. stay on 278 toward the triboro and wait until the last possible exit before the bridge/toll. the real exit you want does not actually say "third ave" in my experience.

yes, this sucks. yes, this is not surprising. and as nomisxid mentions, yes, this may not always be accurate.
posted by dorian at 5:05 PM on September 25, 2007

Good find, smackfu! So they just never updated the first sign... Thanks, this has been bugging me for (I guess 5) years!
posted by nicwolff at 5:08 PM on September 25, 2007

Yes, it's clearly showing the wrong exit number. But if you look at the signs before the split, it clears states that going towards 287 takes you to the Triboro Bridge and taking 87 takes you to the Major Deegan, which is what the previous signage for exit 44 directs you to.
posted by blueskiesinside at 5:46 PM on September 25, 2007

Oh, this never actually tripped me up, because I'd done it so many times as a passenger in my parent's car before I ever drove it myself. And yes, if you understand the interchange, then you know at that point that you need to get on the Major Deegan to get to the bridge - but if you're new to the area or just passing through then you are likely to see the thing you're looking for on a sign, note the exit listed, then watch for that exit.
posted by nicwolff at 7:48 PM on September 25, 2007