Is there a bridge from Astoria to Roosevelt Island?

The Roosevelt Island Bridge is a tower drive vertical lift bridge that connects Roosevelt Island in Manhattan to Astoria in Queens, crossing the East Channel of the East River. It is the sole route to the island for vehicular and foot traffic.



Yes, there is exactly one bridge that connects the neighborhood of Astoria (in Queens) to Roosevelt Island, and it is known simply as the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Located at the intersection of 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Queens, it is a vertical-lift bridge that spans the East Channel of the East River. Crucially, this is the only way to drive a car onto Roosevelt Island, as there is no direct vehicular bridge connection from Manhattan. The bridge features two lanes for vehicles and a wide sidewalk on the north side for pedestrians and cyclists. For many years, it was known as the Welfare Island Bridge until the island was renamed in 1973. While most people associate Roosevelt Island with the iconic red Tramway or the F train subway from Manhattan, the bridge from Astoria remains the island's lifeline for emergency services, delivery trucks, and residents who park in the "Motorgate" garage. In 2026, it continues to be a popular route for walkers and bikers seeking a scenic, quiet path between the bustling streets of Queens and the serene, park-filled island.

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To access the island by foot you have to cross the Queensboro Bridge over the island to Queens and then double back — about 1.6 miles. More direct access is via tram or subway. The guide below has more details on access and running/walking options. About 4 miles around the perimeter of Roosevelt Park.

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You can drive to Roosevelt Island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, which can be accessed at 36th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard in Queens.

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The tiny island is located in the middle of the East River, parallel to Manhattan's East 46th to 85th Streets. From Queens, you can get there via the Roosevelt Island Bridge—this is the only way to walk or drive onto the island. Its entrance is at Vernon Boulevard and Main Street in Astoria.

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Highly recommend this! Not just for fans of FDR, Roosevelt Island has something for anyone looking for views of midtown, and the peace that comes from green spaces surrounded by water. If you are a fan of the man, make a pilgrimage to the tip of the island and Four Freedoms Park.

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Check out this 4.5-mile loop trail near New York City, New York. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 1 h 21 min to complete. This is a popular trail for running and walking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day.

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On Roosevelt Island, which was developed as a middle-class neighborhood from the ruins of prisons and hospitals, affordable housing was plentiful, thanks to state programs that awarded public subsidies to apartment buildings in exchange for keeping rents low.

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From Manhattan, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway, located at East 59th Street and Second Avenue, for $2.75 one way. If you're coming from Queens, you can drive or walk onto the island via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, or take the Q102 bus line.

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NYC DOT owns, operates, and maintains 789 bridges and tunnels throughout New York, including the Brooklyn, Ed Koch Queensboro, Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, 24 movable bridges, and four tunnels. There are no tolls on bridges operated by NYC DOT.

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The Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining Toll-Free Bridges in New York City. Some of the toll-free bridges within the City include: Brooklyn Bridge. Ed Koch Queensboro (59th Street) Bridge.

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Roosevelt Island's biggest transportation attraction is the Roosevelt Island Tram. For the price of a MetroCard swipe, you can rise 250 feet above the East River and be transported between Roosevelt Island and Manhattan in just four minutes!

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Roosevelt Island is part of Manhattan, but it can feel as if it's a world away. It takes a MetroCard swipe to get a lift on the Roosevelt Island Tram, which tracks along the Queensboro Bridge. The F train, Q102 bus, and NYC Ferry also transport neighbors and visitors to the spot in the East River.

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The 60th Street Tunnel carries the N, ?R, and ?W trains of the New York City Subway under the East River and Roosevelt Island between Manhattan and Queens.

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The island is only 2 miles (3.2 km) long and very walkable. From the south to the north, it's the equivalent of 35 city blocks. Touring the Island will take about 3 hours. It's best to go when the weather is pleasant as all the sights are outdoors.

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Blackwell's Island, now known as Roosevelt Island, has a deep connection to disability and incarceration. For much of the early 1900s, New Yorkers nicknamed the island Welfare Island after the asylums, prisons, and almshouses that were built there.

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Affordable housing – With prices lower than those in Manhattan, find great deals on apartments and homes on Roosevelt Island. There's affordable housing as well as apartments and coops more spacious than most of Manhattan.

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At the northern tip of Roosevelt Island is another park, Lighthouse Park, named after the Blackwell Island Light.

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While still a part of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is its opposite: quiet, homely, and mostly green-colored.

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  • Roosevelt Island is two miles long and located on the East River between Manhattan and Queens.
  • It was formally known as Blackwell's Island and Welfare Island.
  • The F line train station on Roosevelt Island opened in 1989.
  • The island can also be reached by the Roosevelt Island Tramway, the ferry and by bridge from Queens.


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Another cool N.Y. sunset view is from the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which floats next to the Queensboro Bridge and goes over the East River. Whether you're going to Roosevelt Island or to the Upper East Side, we recommend trying to get a spot where you're facing Manhattan.

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It travels a distance of 3,140 feet at a speed of up to 17 miles per hour in less than three (3) minutes. It rises to a maximum height of 230 feet and can carry a maximum of 109 passengers plus an attendant per cabin. The system annually transports more than two million passengers.

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