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 (without using public transportation).

The bridge is rarely opened, because most vessels passing by Roosevelt Island use the West Channel of the East River.

[4] Most of the bridge openings occur in September during the General Assembly at the United Nations when the West Channel is closed for security reasons.

[6] Media related to Roosevelt Island Bridge at Wikimedia Commons