Will Koch Bridge Catch On Like The RFK Bridge Didn't?

Flickr user -Ruben-

Some bridges don't get no respect. No mayor in his right mind would ever dream of naming the Brooklyn Bridge after a former politician, but when it comes to bridges with modern, ugly metalwork it's all RFK and... Ed Koch? The Bloomberg administration will reportedly announce plans today to rename the Queensboro bridge the Edward I. Koch bridge, and to rename the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel after former Governor Hugh L. Carey.

Koch told the Times he believes the Queensboro is a fitting bridge to carry his name, saying, "It’s a workhorse bridge. And that’s what I am, I’m a workhorse. Always have been. I feel very compatible with it." He also approved of the tunnel naming, which just needs to be signed off by Governor Paterson. City Council needs to approve the renaming of the bridge, and the city plans to raise private money to pay for the updated road signs.

We expect the renamings to be met with a resounding "meh," but one CBS 2 commenter said, "There are great ways to honor those who have served the city and state. Renaming bridges and tunnels just isn’t one of them. This is a complete waste of money, regardless of who is footing the bill." It's OK—everyone here will keep calling the structures by their old names, and tourists will just get confused when they see the signs. It's a win win!

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By Jaya Saxena in News on December 8, 2010 10:10 AM

Comments [rss]

soxinthecity

Trying to rename a bridge made famous by Simon and Garfunkel is the ultimate example of pissing into the wind. What a waste of time, $$, and energy.

dtillyer

That's right.
Along with the Brooklyn Bridge, the 59th Street Bridge is the only bridge or tunnel that has any name recognition, thanks to Simon and Garfunkel.
(Ok, a few people have heard ot the George Washington Bridge...)

A.Gale/Apex.Dujeous

"Ugly and modern"? It was completed in 1909, and is one of the better looking bridges in the city.

patsw

Why not name it after his friend and associate in Queens, Donald R. Manes?

GREGORYABUTLER

But then the bridge would have to stab itself in the chest....

S.K.

Ed Koch never even lived in Queens, and neither did RFK. This is ridiculous. How about we have the Rudy Giuliani Bridge signs on that Gothic-looking 1883 span? At least Rudy was born in Brooklyn.

Professor Von Nostren

Why not rename the whole damn city New Bloomberg and be done with it?

ProcedureTurn

How about "Borough Scum."

luke*

my favorite nyc bridge, but I don't like Koch that much.

Spirit of 76

One would think politicians would have learned the lesson of "Avenue of the Americas." Especially since the country medallions aren't being repaired or replaced anymore, so that name will be meaningless in a few decades. (Or more meaningless than it is today.)

youngpro

ehh, except ave of the americas is a legit address registered with the u.s. post office, not just a cosmetic name like 'loisaida'. people and businesses have actual avenue of the americas addresses...

farenbalanced

The Triboro Bridge actually explains where it goes. So of course the a-holes decided to not only change it to a name no one uses, but spend tons of money putting up new signs for this bullshit while raising subway fares.
How about an honest name, like the Fuck You MTA?
www.newyorkgritty.net

BongoBoy

Queensborough Bridge for Koch. No, nothing here, nada.

Alex

Nothing like honoring a man who was in office during the beginning of the HIV/AIDS crisis and did nothing to address it. If Koch acted during the beginning thousands of lives could be saved.

ides_of_march

Let's rename it "Fed Up Taxpayer Bridge" after the people who have to pay for all these idiotic things.

Ortiz

These fuckers in office are fucking nuts.The City is about to layoff 10k workers and they are worring about renaming a bridge and a tunnel??? Who the fuck cares about Koch or Carey!

misterbill

Absolutely ridiculous. In addition to the cost to the City, think about all of the map companies that will have to waste their money changing the name, and confused people. I like Ed Koch but renaming highways and bridges when the city/state have no money is just a profoundly idiotic thing to do.

youngpro

map companies are the LEAST important in anything here, stupid.

and wtf is a map these days anyway? get back to 1992 or something.

misterbill

Two months after the article and you have to post something like that?

GPS's use maps, and people who do not upgrade their GPS's map (which is usually not free) will have the old name. Online map services like Google Maps will also have to change. You have heard of them, right? Just because you can't think beyond a printed map doesn't mean that my comment isn't relevant. Now who's stupid?