Mayor Bloomberg Signs Bill Renaming Queensboro Bridge

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Queensboro Bridge officially got a new name Monday. Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed a bill renaming the span the "Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge."

WCBS 880's Rich Lamb with those praising Ed Koch

During his three terms as mayor, Koch spearheaded many bridge projects. The span was part of his district when he served in Congress.

Bloomberg praised Koch and called him a quintessential New Yorker: tough, outspoken and passionate.

1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports: Koch Thankful For The Honor

"Just as he pulled our city back from the edge of collapse, you should know that Mayor Koch literally saved the  Queensboro Bridge from near collapse and then began the process of reinvesting in then-crumbling bridges across the city," Bloomberg said.

The 105^th mayor stood in the shadow of the bridge and thanked city leaders for the honor of naming the 102-year-old span after him.

"It's a bridge that everybody loves," Koch said. "It doesn't have the inspiring heights of the George Washington Bridge, it's better than the George Washington Bridge because it works."

The renaming was not popular among New Yorkers. A recent Quinnipiac University poll found 64 percent of city voters were opposed to renaming the bridge.

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• Queens
• Rich Lamb
• Queensboro Bridge
• 59th Street Bridge