gjkayak

Author: gjkayak
Date: 09/28/2006, 06:20 pm

I need to turn in a rental car on East 48th Street (one way eastbound). I Will be coming south on the FDR. Can someone tell me the best exit onto a westbound street in the 40's or 50's to reach Hertz on 48th between 1st and 2nd Avenues?

Also, from many Fodorite posts, I gather the 278/Triboro Bridge is the best way to get from I-87 or the Hutch to the FDR, Correct?

travelbear

Exit at 53rd Street. Then head south on 2nd Ave (as 1st Ave is north bound the whole way) until you reach 48th. I am not sure which way 48th runs, but if you have to do the block to get going the right direction, it won't be a problem.

Triboro Bridge is the best way to get onto the FDR south. However, it is a toll bridge (I believe it is $4.50). If you wanted to cross for free, you can take the 3rd Ave bridge. To get there, you continue on 87 past the turnoff for the Triboro. It is the next exit on the right and is clearly marked. For my money though, I'd just pay the toll.

HowardR

travelbear's directions for getting from the FDR to East 48th are correct. Follow them and you'll be fine.

gjkayak

Thanks to both who responded; I don't know how much those kids who "clean" windshields at the 3rd Avenue Bridge charge these days, but I'll happily pay the Triborough Bridge toll.

HowardR

You're dating yourself about the window washers. Unless I've been incredibly lucky, there haven't been window washers there in years.

ekscrunchy

I haven't seen those guys in at least 15 years! Why would anyone take the Triboro into Manhattan from the Deegan?

ggreen

yes, but I'm pretty sure the 3rd Ave Bridge exit is *before* the Triboro. The exits generally go: I-95/Cross Bronx/GWB, then Yankee Stadium, then 3rd Ave Bridge, then Willis Ave Bridge (other side of the 3rd Ave bridge), then the only exit after that is the split for Bruckner/Triboro.

When you get to the Manhattan side of the 3rd Ave bridge, follow the signs for FDR South. Keep in mind that within a short distance of getting on the FDR, there will be a (heavy) merge on the left from traffic entering off the Triboro, and if it's a busy time of day, people trying to get into the exit-only lane to go onto the Triboro. As is typical in NYC, this will occur at the last possible moment before the exit ramp, causing headaches for everyone else - stay in the middle lane.

Also, there is a southbound-only exit on the FDR at 49th Street; this is the UN exit. I would exit at 49th Street, cross over 1st Ave, take a left onto 2nd Ave, then your first left onto 48th Street.

Oh yeah, and no more squeegie guys in the city! I used to hover at the top of the Willis Ave Bridge exit, waiting for the light to turn green, then zoom down and through the intersection - just to avoid them!

bill_boy

If you are coming from the south along FDR , i.e. going Northbound, then there is an exit labeled as 48th Street exit. This exit actually runs along 49th, I think. From 49th, turn left on 2nd Ave and then another left on the next block, 48th Street, to the Hertz rental place.

john127

From 87 (Deegan), I think the easiest way to the FDR is the 3rd Avenue bridge and it's before (not after, as previously posted) the Triboro. The sign is very obvious and clear, if I recall.

ekscrunchy

The sign is very clear. But there appear to be sporadic closings of the bridge at night now..it was closed last night about midnight. Not sure what the schedule is. but I doubt if you are driving in at night....

ggreen

If the 3rd Ave Bridge is closed, you should have two more options to get across to Manhattan from the Deegan/I-87:

- On the Deegan, the Willis Ave bridge is the exit after the 3rd Ave bridge. I haven't been over it in a few years, and the last time it was, it was under construction - so someone else may have a better idea of its availability. If it's open: turn right off the exit ramp (only way you can go); at the bottom of the hill, turn right at the light/ McDonald's, then stay on that road for about two blocks, which will feed you right up onto the bridge. Note that you have to bear right pretty steeply at the end of the bridge to get to the ramp to the FDR; however, if you miss it for any reason, the next exit puts you on 2nd Avenue, which you could always take down through Harlem and the Upper East Side to 48th Street...

- If you opt not to take the Willis Ave bridge, the last exit on the Deegan is for the Triboro. Bear right at the split (for the Triboro as opposed to the Bruckner) and follow the signs for the bridge. When you get to the bridge, the exit for the Manhattan span is before the bank of toll booths for Queens: look on the right for the exit-only sign for Manhattan-Randalls Island.

ekscrunchy

There is also the option of the Madison Avenue Bridge which I think is one exit north of the Third Avenue Bridge. I thought the Willis Avenue Bridge was the one that goes north from First Avenue...??

HowardR

This has become very confusing. To simplify: Take the Major Deegan (I-87) to the Willis Avenue Bridge exit. Go to the second light and take a right. Stay in the right-hand lane and take the exit for the FDR. Follow the FDR to East 53rd St.

ggreen

I forgot about the Madison Ave bridge. The Willis Ave bridge is primarily used going northbound from 1st Ave and the FDR, but it also goes the other direction - or at least it used to. The last time I used it was probably about three years ago, and it was undergoing some major construction. I assume the bridge still goes both directions, but maybe the construction was done to make it a one-way bridge? The DOT documentation seems to imply that that it's a northbound bridge; but I did take it southbound for many many years following the route I described...

ggreen

Howard, is there a reason that you suggest the 53rd Street exit off the FDR rather than the UN/49th Street one? I'm curious, since I rarely use either...

HowardR

ggreen, no other reasons than:
1. I'm a creature of habit.
2. I think there's less chance of something going wrong to someone unfamiliar with the area.
Either way, you still go go down (left) 2nd Avenue and left on 48th.

ekscrunchy

Green, it is one way now.....

ggreen

aha! Good to know. Thanks, ekscrunchy!

(I always used to go through the extra hassle of Brooklyn Bridge -> FDR -> Willis Ave, or vice versa, rather than pay for the Triboro. As I got older and my wallet a little thicker, I stopped doing that. Now that I'm back in school, I'd probably be tempted to return to my penny-pinching ways, so it's very good to know which bridge to take when!!)

HowardR, that makes perfect sense to me - I do much the same with the BQE!

gjkayak

The winning entry is: "Take the Major Deegan (I-87) to the Willis Avenue Bridge exit. Go to the second light and take a right. Stay in the right-hand lane and take the exit for the FDR. Follow the FDR to East 53rd St."

These directions worked perfectly. The ramp to 3rd avenue bridge was closed yesterday, so Willis was the only option.

Thanks to all who responded.

ggreen

I'm so glad it worked out!