Published by

Long Island Expressway Dedication

New York Mayor Robert F. Wagner at the dedication of the new home of the Fashion Institute of Technology on May 4, 1959.

This broadcast covers the dedication of a section of the Long Island Expressway extending from the Nassau/Queens county line to Willis Avenue. The event is emceed by Robert Moses. Speakers include: New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Nassau County Executive, A. Holly Patterson, and John W. Johnson, State Superintendent of Public Works. Governor Harriman spoke at the event but is not captured here. Rev. Stewart C. Haskings offers the benediction.

A WNYC announcer introduces the program., which will be a portion of the total ceremony celebrating the opening of a 5-mile stretch of the Long Island Expressway.

Robert Moses emcees. He describes the role of the portion being dedicated to the larger arterial highway system. He discusses the delays and costs involved. He talks about the future of the project, which will be finished in stretches over the following years. He talks about claiming future properties for the project.
He talks about the attacks on the Governor for going to slow in building the highway.

Moses introduces John W. Johnson, State Superintendent of Public Works.

Johnson discusses the auspicious gathering of the afternoon. He talks about the line on a map coming into fruition. He praises Governor Harriman's work ethic and attention to detail. He also praises Robert Moses for his vision. He feels that Moses is misunderstood. He thanks Milton Gould and the Department of Public Works.

Moses introduces Nassau County Executive, Holly Patterson, whom he praises for his years of service.

Patterson discusses the tremendous project and its vital effect. He talks about the great need for the highway. He discusses the common cause and effort behind the project. He praises Bob Moses.

Moses introduces Rev. Stewart C. Haskings who will bless the dedication.
Haskings waxes poetic on the highway. He dedicated the expressway to the men who designed it and worked on it. He dedicates it to its users and the United States.

Moses presents the Mayor of New York, Robert Wagner. Before doing this he talks about the necessity of moving people out of the way, something that La Guardia struggled for housing with as mayor. O'Dwyer also struggled with the problem when highway monies started coming in. He talks about the initial dissatisfaction people have with people moving.
He contrasts elected officials with appointed ones and the ease the latter have compared to the former.

Wagner is a summer resident of Long Island and is please with the highways being built. He talks about Moses' vision for Long Island, which he has had for over 30 years. He talks about the coming plans for the LI Expressway. He talks about the financial cooperation between the four levels of government in New York - federal, state, city, and Triborough. He discusses the history of the arterial highway projects in the NYC area. Wagner looks forward to the day when all 80 miles of the highway system are built.

The WNYC announcer closes out the program, recapping the event.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 150435
Municipal archives id: LT8044

This is a machine-generated transcript. Text is unformatted and may contain errors.

In the public interest your city station brings you a part of the ceremonies attending the opening of a five mile seven and a half million dollar section of the Long Island Expressway this new a six lane highway extends from the Queens Nassau County line to Willis Ave in Nassau County among the speakers scheduled to appear are New York State Governor Abraham and New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner Nassau county county executive a holly Patterson there presiding is Robert Moses chairman of the Triborough tunnel and bridge authority. This portion of the Long Island Expressway just part of an eighty five model Modern a lot of restructuring the tunnels in Brooklyn and Queens to Riverhead the audio such an expressway to be built in sections from west to east beginning in built up areas where it has long been needed was conceived some time ago delayed by the usual abstractions and finally be laid to delay got underway already ninety three million dollars in federal state city and five or a bridge and tunnel of already funds have been spent to bring us to this milestone. The completion of the section to wellness Avenue in Nassau County will be followed by the opening next year of the next section the grand cold rolled bids on the construction of still another four miles to Jericho Turnpike Macksville will be taken next week bringing the total up to one hundred three million dollars remaining six miles of the Suffolk County line should be ready for bids next year as to the forty eight miles through Suffolk County estimated to cost seventy five million dollars We have state officials on Long Island intimately involved in Ontario amount of hold off ways and expressways recommend to the governor that all rights of way to Lake Ronkonkoma be acquired during nine hundred fifty nine and the rest from Ronkonkoma to river head in one nine hundred sixty in order to forestall further building on the road he's forty eight miles through Suffolk might well be divided into six sections for purposes of construction. Beginning in one nine hundred sixty and depending on future federal and state appropriations one section a year could be placed on a contract at a cost of approximately twelve million dollars a year about as much as can reasonably be expected in this area at such a distance from the Metropolitan core and in the light of travel figures I am aware of the attacks on the gov for not going faster these criticisms seem to me after some thirty five years of experience with Long Island growth and needs to have been completely unjustified this is a realistic but tight schedule depending on the continued availability of substantial state the federal funds we may not be proceeding at a dizzy pace but we are moving steadily eastward in a tremendous undertaking which will not only help meet traffic requirements but will also stimulate the entire economy of Long Island the first speaker this afternoon is the State Superintendent of Public Works John W. Johnson and Johnson. Thank you. Thank you Commissioner Robert Moses reverend clergy Governor how many now live near distinguished guests ladies and gentlemen boys and girls this specialists gathering here this afternoon culminates as commissioner Moses had indicated many years of thought and planning for the time it was just a line on a map here today we see the food ration of the and cooperation of many state city and federal agencies it is fitting therefore that such an occasion as this be met made official much work is underway by our state of New York. And a great deal of it here in the metropolitan area of New York City Long Island and Westchester County we have been led by advocate governor out of all evil harm and bless my boss has been in constant contact with me on a department on highway manners he has pushed the highway program just as hard as of an humanly possible a bill and I know that he is on the job eighteen to twenty four hours every day because I've gotten some calls at two A.M. and a six AM If you want to know some detail he's a great man for deep down not only for highways but all of the state's business refought we are fortunate also and having another great leader and Commissioner Robert Moses he has led the way by has been a vision to make these things possible without this a vision of him as I thought they would not be possible I don't I think there is another man the state who was more loved but less understood the private Moses my conception of him as this that he hates smallness he has no time for smallness but he has to get things done and in his lifetime his accomplishments have been very great I would be remiss if I didn't call attention to the wonderful work has been done by our last local District Department of Public Works headed by Mr Milton Goldman the present time and this district one hundred fifty million dollars where the projects are now underway that's a terrific amount and he and his men are carrying a great load. We are proud of the work that has been accomplished here by two very five contractors one was Lizzie and sons and the other was talk a hole and by this we hope that the facility here well and. Only that which would otherwise be struggled and it will be a safe and sane highway thank you very much. Thank. You next speaker. The county executive the house all county I want to say I'm resigning him that. Over a period of many errors I think about thirty four or thirty five. Some of us have been working with county. Executives and county boards of supervisors and town officials I think very effectively in season and now regardless of politics. I recall with a great deal of pleasure years ago when we started this program Governor Smith was governor. The leaders in Nassau County had been in the assembly with him for many if they were public and he was a Democrat they got along together. And we carried on our work in the same fashion and under the same auspices since them I'm glad to present a part of. Russia Moses right the way actions rate Governor how many. Mayor Wagner and distinguished officials ladies and gentlemen I'm sure that we all gathered here today appreciate the. Historic value of this great occasion and the fact that it marks another milestone in the development of this great comprehensive highway system it's our exist right area of the state of New York. That has a tremendous project and want it will have a very vital fact upon Long Island. It will go a long way to strengthen the economy of the island. And afraid so mad the associations and the Barry pleasant cooperation that we have with the city of New York under a distinguished mayor. Over a long period of years we've had a great growth and as a median area. It's been a challenge. To county officials to the city officials of the city of Najaf and to the state. And as this program sets forth Governor how many. Lives in our county right part of the time recognize the importance of attaching priority to this highway system we need it very badly but great projects are not built overnight has a great deal of detail a great many challenges to be met and I am sure that this highway is being progressed as rapidly as possible we are all working together in a common cause to make this a more accessible island and I stronger community in which to live enjoy the livelihoods of our time. Very very clever the great service and Bob Moses over a long period of time has rendered in this area. He has seen in various administrations common go that Bob Moses cautioned me for all of us as continue not to hound and coordinated on of these great public conscience so that working together we feel we build a bad eye community and that is state and made our contribution to the people thank you. I'm glad now to recognize the reverence two of C. asking. Community Church right now will help us dedicate this public forum. And we ask the blessing of God upon our act of dedication let us all pray. Almighty God who has declared in the book of Die truth. That the ballet's shall be lifted up in the hills of the fraud on and the crooked places made straight and the rough places made smooth to provide a highway for our God be with us now and bless us in this act of dedication we dedicate this highway to the memory of the many men who have had a part in the constructing of it the man whose vision has planned the expressways of this metropolis the engineers who have so computed that it shall be official and safe for travel and the work of the countless laborers who have also had a great part in it we dedicate this highway. For the welfare of all the people of our area knowing that good role does mean progress bring people together help good government and better communications and so aid in the promotion of the common good we dedicate this highway to the welfare and safety of the thousands who will use it in an age when speed is increasingly a danger to the common welfare and we dedicate this highway in the spirit of love to our country and a prayer in our hearts for our country that it may continue to grow and prosper and develop under the eye Providence and that it may be a leader among the nations in civic rights just ness and that the people of this country will have a greater care for their responsibilities as citizens even as they enjoy the freedoms that we have and that our country made lead the nations in the progress of mankind toward fraternity and brotherhood and cooperation among all men to these and bless we pray the this act of dedication Amen. In presenting the mayor of New York I want to say something that doubtless has been said many times before and he said. I doubt whether in the history of the world certainly in modern times. Has been anything like the program. In the metropolitan area of New Iraq. In reconstruction. Housing. Roads. Schools. All of which involve. Moving. Inconveniencing. Many people. Have something that can't be avoided if the job is going to be done. I know that mail and Wadia face that problem in the field of housing with them said remote trepidation because they used to talk to me about it all. Later on when they federal highway program was a hole. With all the necessary for operations contributions on the part of the state. Big municipalities. Not all O'Dwyer faced the same problem I asked him whether. He really wanted to take advantage full advantage. Of this projected proposed huge amount of federal and state money I said Now you know when you do not. Want to have to move thousands and thousands of people many of whom won't understand watching driving out. Many of whom will be hostile. Some will miss and fall. In the end they'll be satisfied that the end is a long way off. And you launched the city on this program. I'm now Wagner as the elected head of ah government in the city has had a hand with these things. I must say frankly that. They don't. I won't say concern us as much but that not as much of a problem to appointed as they are to elected offices the elected officer is in the immediate line of fire. I present now lacking. Mr Moses haven't I have been seven members of the clergy. Ladies and gentlemen both young and a little older. As a life time some a resident of Long Island I'm always happy to see real progress being made in extending our expressways from the metropolis out on to the island every additional mile makes beaches golf courses fishing grounds and other vacation spots more accessible to city dwellers every additional section open to traffic makes it easier for our neighbors Nassau and Suffolk counties to come into the city whether on business or pleasure every section of highway an expressway that is completed on Long Island is a fulfillment of a dream which Moses had thirty years ago. Despite the many other activities in which he has been engaged over these years from renovating a slum area in Manhattan to constructing a multi-million dollar power project on the St Lawrence or at Niagara Falls I think his first love has been the development of the Long Island highway system and the island's recreation facility. The strip nearly five miles long of the Long Island Expressway which is being open to traffic today between the Queens Nassau County line and Willis Avenue is the first section to be completed within Nassau County another mile and a half section and Nassau County between Willis Avenue and Guinea wood road is under construction and will be open to traffic in one nine hundred fifty nine in New York City all except less than a mile of a total of almost thirteen miles is completed or under construction and will be finished during the early months of nineteen fifty nine. Giving priority to the sections within the city has done not without good reason was done not without good reason for it is here that traffic is heaviest and congestion greatest every mile of through highway that is built relieves this congestion although it might be hard to convince weekend and holiday motorists moving between the City and Long Island of this fact highways parkways and expressways are expensive it's the price we pay for living in a motor age but there is consolation in the fact that this expressway and others in our great metropolitan not tary a system I'm monuments to financial cooperation between city state and federal governments and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority the city back in one thousand forty built the first mile and a half section as an approach to the Queens Midtown Tunnel at a cost of over five million dollars the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority built the next little over three miles east and lead to one including the bridge over Queens Boulevard at a total cost of over twenty nine million dollars for construction and land and the city contributed somewhere around four million dollars for the land the authority paid eleven and a half million dollars for land for the next eight and a half miles to the east with the federal and state governments sharing the construction costs of forty five million dollars in Nassau and Suffolk Counties land and construction will be paid out of state and federal funds. I let fall into the day when the entire eighty one miles of the expressway are open to traffic from the Brooklyn Civic Center and the East River crossings to distant Riverhead far out on the island let's move forward with this program for the benefit of all of our people in New York City Nassau and Suffolk thank you very much thank. Your city station has presented a portion of the ceremonies at the opening of a five mile seven and a half million dollar section of the Long Island Expressway this new six lane highway extends from the Queens Nassau County line to Willis Ave in Nassau County among the speakers here today were New York State Governor Avril Harriman New York City Mayor Robert F. Wagner Nassau county county executive a holly Patterson and New York State Department of Public Works Superintendent John W. Johnson Robert Moses as chairman of the Triborough tunnel and bridge authority presided transcribed earlier this afternoon this program was brought to you in the public interest by your city station.

Post a Comment