Battery Park Underpass

History

The underpass started construction in 1949 and opened to the public on April 10, 1951. The underpass runs underneath the Battery, connecting the West Side Highway to the South Street Viaduct with two lanes of traffic in each direction. The project was completed shortly after the opening of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel in 1950, and provides direct access between the West Side Highway and FDR Drive.

In 2005, during the reconstruction of NY 9A, the western end of the Battery Park Underpass was extended to the north by about 25 ft to provide a U-turn lane and amenities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

During Hurricane Sandy, the tunnel was filled with seawater and required major repairs.

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.
• 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.

References

References

1. (April 11, 1951). "City Opens Underpass at Battery, $10,000,000 Link in Express Route". [[The New York Times]].
2. Newman, Andy. (November 13, 2012). "Battery Tunnel Partly Reopens to Motorists". [[The New York Times]].
3. (November 13, 2012). "Reopening of the Battery Park Underpass to Westbound Buses for Afternoon Rush Hour Beginning Today and Reopening to All Eastbound Vehicles Beginning Wednesday Nov. 14 During Morning Rush Hour". New York City Department of Transportation.
4. (1949-02-01). "Breaking Ground for $9,500,000 Battery Park Project". The New York Times.
5. (2009). "Guide to Civil Engineering Projects In and Around New York City". Metropolitan Section, American Society of Civil Engineers.
6. Dunlap, David W.. (November 2, 2005). "A Little Easier Getting Around Downtown". [[The New York Times]].
7. (November 13, 2012). "Battery Park Underpass partially reopens". [[WABC-TV]].
8. Dunlap, David W.. (August 1, 2002). "Plans for the Neglected East River Shoreline". [[The New York Times]].
9. Dunlap, David W.. (March 2, 2005). "Restoring a Missing Link: Lower Manhattan to the East River". [[The New York Times]].