Battery Park Underpass
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Western portal at the West Side Highway
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Battery Park Underpass |
| Location | Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Route | FDR Drive |
| Start | South Street Viaduct, Financial District |
| End | West Street, Battery Park City |
| Operation | |
| Opened | April 11, 1951[1] |
| Reopened | November 13, 2012[2] |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Character | Limited access |
| Technical | |
| Construction | 1940-1951 |
| Number of lanes | 4 |
| Operating speed | 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) |
| Tunnel clearance | 12 feet 7 inches (3.84 m) |
The Battery Park Underpass is a vehicular underpass in Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City. It was the second section of Manhattan's Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive to be completed.
History
The underpass opened to the public on April 11, 1951. It runs underneath Battery Park, connecting the West Side Highway to the South Street Viaduct with two lanes of traffic in each direction.[1] The project was completed shortly after the opening of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and provides direct access between the tunnel and the FDR Drive.[3]
In 2005, during the reconstruction of Route 9A, the roof of the Battery Park Underpass was extended to the north by about 80 feet to provide a U-turn lane and amenities for pedestrians and bicyclists.[4]
During Superstorm Sandy, the tunnel filled completely with seawater and required major repairs.[5]
Plans for extension
There have been three proposals to extend the tunnel north on the FDR Drive side.
- In 1971, it was suggested that the South Street Viaduct be turned into a tunnel, essentially extending the underpass north to the Brooklyn Bridge
- In 2002, the Downtown Alliance, the local Business improvement district, called for a 350-foot (105 m) extension to the underpass to create a plaza in front of the Battery Maritime Building. The estimated cost was $70 million.[6]
- In 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg also called for an extension of the underpass near the Battery Maritime Building as part of a plan to rehabilitate the South Street Viaduct.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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External links
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