MIDTOWN TUNNEL

The Queens - Midtown Tunnle

East River bridges that came up between about 1850 and 1910 did much better than envisioned in terms of promoting business and other links between the Boroughs. The vehicular traffic had begun to grow in such unprecedented manner, that the Midtown Tunnel was a major relief when it opened doors for business in 1940. President Roosevelt, who had broken ground to mark the start of construction four years earlier, was also the first to drive through the completed tubes as well. The Midtown Tunnel has responded to Presidential involvement in its welfare by providing a high-capacity, all-weather and most reliable link between Manhattan and Queens for over 6 decades.

The Midtown Tunnel was a technological marvel of its time. The engineer responsible for the project had earlier and relevant experience in joining Manhattan with New Jersey. Ole Singstad ran through the rocky terrain below the East River with confidence and determination: each of the two channels was even wider than what he had built earlier, and he did it in little more than half the 7 years the Holland Tunnel took. Ventilation towers effect a complete air change every hour in the tunnel that has been dug through the varying terrain that exists under the East River. The tunnel incorporates the best safety features and has a good track record in this respect.

The Midtown Tunnel helps Queens and Manhattan stay in touch with each other. It partners the bridges above to feed New York’s insatiable appetite for transport infrastructure. It has played a significant if low-key role in keeping New York at the vanguard of international financial and commerce hubs. It is an integral part of New York’s representation of the supremacy of the entire US economy. Residents in the boroughs and visitors from all over count on it more than many of them realize.

The Midtown Tunnel carries some 80 thousand vehicles a day. It is part of Interstate 495 and serves as a westbound terminus for the Long Island Expressway. The Manhattan end is networked in a manner to connect in optimal manner with the city’s grid. The edges of the tunnel on land bear almost no sign of the continuous flow of traffic below. Hunter’s Point at the Queen’s side has some apartments and warehouses, whereas the Manhattan end just has some greenery to cover the entrance and exit.

It is natural that a construction of such dimensions, nature and intense use, will need major maintenance. A project has started in 1998 and seeks to strengthen the ceiling, provide better lighting, upgraded fire protection and related features. Much of this work has been completed already. The latest technology has been deployed, including use of a novel glue-like compound to fuse metal brackets with the concrete of the tunnel tubes. This ensures the continued integrity of the tunnel in the face of the extreme stresses to which it is subject all the time. The air circulation has also been improved with new fans and pumps. The Midtown Tunnel is set to continue its key role in keeping Manhattan and Queens well connected in to the 21st century.