The expressway becomes an exit of itself. The original 1950's
Van Wyck continued straight ahead, eventually into the Grand
Central Pkwy heading for the Triboro Bridge. The early 60's Van
Wyck extension breaks off from the original route, exit style,
on the right. The original expressway route was thus rendered,
officially, an exit. Those who have no intention of getting on
the Grand Central, are not always prepared to avoid it. Likewise,
those who expect to exit right, as at most normal exits, to get
on the GCP, suddenly find themselves headed for the VW extension.
After all, not every driver among the millions traversing this
highway, up from JFK Airport, or from points south via Staten
Island and the Belt, know the history of this section. Not everyone
is an expressway nut like yours truly.
Still, by the time they reach this point, most drivers will be
in whatever lane they need to be. In the top view, at least one
moron wasn't and made a dangerous last gasp move to the left,
across 2 lanes and a safety barrier, to head for the GCP, as
witnessed by the streaking taillights swerving from the far right
lane. This was shot 5/98. |
