| West from the 48th Street overpass. As the upper level LIE rumbles on towards the Midtown Tunnel, the lower levellers are forced to choose sides. Most are choosing to defect to the southwest bound Brooklyn Queens Expwy. The BQE is the only reason most motorists take the lower level west anyway. Few motorists are even aware that the lower level is just as much a thru route for the LIE, as is the upper level, albeit making "local" stops, in the form of the BQE and 48th Street exits. Most people just assume that the westbound lower level is simply a long exit ramp for the BQE. |
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The elevated BQE can be seen crossing over the LIE in the
background. Ironically, before the LIE was itself elevated, with
the constructing of the upper deck, the original LIE passed over
the original BQE, which was elevated both north and south of
the LIE, but dipped into a cut for their great interchange. The
LIE double decking was taking place simultaniously, with the
total rebuilding of the ancient BQE section between the LIE and
Queens Blvd, which was closed for a while. The constant construction, coupled with the obvious envy the BQE must've always felt for it's more illustrious cousin, apparently resulted in a game of one-upmanship, as to which highway would be higher than the other. The end result is that the new BQE towers over the upper LIE. Lost in the air race was the quaint little westbound exit, from the old LIE onto the old BQE, which actually had a traffic light. |
Shot in late Spring 1998.
