sometimes- but not always- depending- you may find lanes closed or directions reversed on the bridge, which really screws up traffic in the other direction. the following crystal clear memo from metrocommute explains it:

"Manhattan Queensboro Bridge lane closures
Queensboro Bridge: The North Inner Lower Roadway is Manhattan-bound with access from Queens Plaza North to Second Avenue and East 60th Street. The South Inner Lower Roadway is Queens-bound with access from 2nd Avenue to Queens Plaza South. Trucks are allowed on the lower inner roadways only. Trucks are prohibited from the upper and outer roadways. The North Upper Roadway is Manhattan-bound at all times. Access is to East 62nd Street/ East 63rd Street in Manhattan from Thomson Avenue, 21st Street at Queens Plaza North, and 11th Street at Queens Plaza South in Queens. The South Upper Roadway is Queens-bound except from 5:30am to 11am weekdays when the roadway is reversed and accommodates the Manhattan-bound high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane containing two or more people from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday. Access is to East 58th Street/East 57th Street in Manhattan from Thomson Avenue or 21st Street at 43rd Avenue in Queens. The North Outer Roadway accommodates bicyclists and pedestrians at all times. The South Outer Roadway of the lower level is open Queens-bound to passenger cars only with access from westbound 59th Street to Queens Boulevard. A total of one lane in each direction may be closed for painting on the lower level from 10pm to 5:30am Monday to Friday; Saturday 12:01am to 7am; and Sunday from 1am to 11am. Additionally one of two lanes on the north upper roadway to Manhattan may be closed for roadway repairs from 10pm to 5am Sunday nights to Friday mornings. The South Outer Roadway to Queens may be closed 1am to 6am, weeknights and Saturday 1am to 7am. The south upper roadway to Queens may have one lane closed weeknights 11pm to 5am, and the North upper roadway to Manhattan 10pm to 5am weeknights and 1am to 6am Saturday. These lane closures are necessary to facilitate NYCDOT bridge maintenance, repairs and painting."