Battery Park Underpass
Western portal at the West Side Highway
|
|
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Battery Park Underpass |
| Location | Battery Park, Manhattan, New York City |
| Coordinates | 40°42′09″N 74°00′58″W / 40.70250°N 74.01611°WCoordinates: 40°42′09″N 74°00′58″W / 40.70250°N 74.01611°W |
| Route |
 FDR Drive
|
| Start | South Street Viaduct, Financial District |
| End | West Street, Battery Park City |
| Operation | |
| Constructed | 1940-1951 |
| Opened | April 11, 1951 |
| Closed | October 29, 2012 |
| Reopened | November 13, 2012 |
| Traffic | Automotive |
| Character | Limited access |
| Technical | |
| 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 tunnel in Manhattan, New York. It was the second section of Manhattan's Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive to be completed. The underpass crosses beneath Battery Park and the approach to the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel.
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. The project was completed shortly after the opening of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and provides direct access between the tunnel and the FDR Drive.
In 2005, during the reconstruction of Route 9A, the roof of the Battery Park Underpass was extended to the north by about 80 feet (25m) to provide a U-turn lane and amenities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
During Hurricane Sandy, the tunnel filled completely with seawater and required major repairs.
There have been three proposals to extend the tunnel north on the FDR Drive side.
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Wikipedia