Arleare13 t1_j9unk5x wrote
A tunnel would certainly be the best solution, but getting there seems utterly impractical. How do you conceivably build a tunnel through some of the densest areas of Brooklyn (including through the Atlantic Terminal transit complex) without impossibly enormous cost and disruption?
The article says that proponents claim that current tunneling technology would allow it to be built without disturbing properties at ground level, but I can't help but be skeptical.
throws_rocks_at_cars t1_j9w5ug2 wrote
I have that flavor of autism that compels me to watch promotional technical product demonstration of Swiss tunnel boring machines.
It can be done.
KosherSloth t1_j9xiz63 wrote
Can be done? Absolutely.
Can be done in Nyc? Lmfao
birthdaycakefig t1_ja2ulg3 wrote
It’s sad that this is just the default, not only in nyc but as a country. We’ve stopped progress and have become ok with saying “nah, it’s too hard”.
Important-Ad1871 t1_j9uquw4 wrote
Dig a deep tunnel in stable ground. That’s what they’re doing on 2nd Ave. I don’t know if they can do it without enormous cost, though.
akmalhot t1_j9wmljz wrote
You mean what they've been trying to do for a century ?
Serious_Historian578 t1_ja57bhq wrote
Deep tunnels work for trains that people take stairs/elevators down into. It's not realistic for a road that people need to get on and off of
Edwunclerthe3rd t1_j9x3pz1 wrote
I'm curious as to if this is easier or harder for queens, due to the geology. Manhattan is very close to bedrock while parts of BK Queens is up to 250 feet to bedrock
DeathLeopard t1_j9uqa81 wrote
It can be done.
oreosfly t1_j9uvqx7 wrote
WA 99 is a brand new tunnel that was built when the existing WA 99 elevated structure was still in use. When the tunnel was ready, the old highway closed and traffic was seamlessly redirected to the new tunnel.
The BQE has no existing alternate roadway to reroute traffic during construction. That probably adds immense complexity to this project compared to Seattle’s
TeamMisha t1_j9wd6rd wrote
> The BQE has no existing alternate roadway to reroute traffic during construction
Indeed, this is why the original plan was going to spend multiple billions of dollars to literally build a massive temporary highway lol. That was deemed, obviously, as insanity, and thankfully we did not go through with it. This is all known as "MPT" or maintenance and protection of traffic, and is usually one of the most complex pieces of any large traffic engineering project. A great example is the construction at LaGuardia (and soon JFK), how roadway access was maintained through each construction phase with a myriad of temporary roadways and structures.
WorthPrudent3028 t1_j9xh47r wrote
Couldn't you force trucks onto Furman street and cars through the tunnel to the FDR? Maybe pause toll collection to encourage that route.
Furman may have to close too. So build a new temporary trucks only road through the park. That park is going to be nearly inaccessible during construction anyway.
TeamMisha t1_j9z0ay4 wrote
> Couldn't you force trucks onto Furman street
Potentially, but the turn at Old Fulton may be problematic for trucks, it would need to be studied. Any truck diversion route would of course get pushback from local communities as well, complicating the problem. Trucks going northbound on Furman can't re-enter the BQE until Sands Street, which again could be problematic but may be the best option.
> So build a new temporary trucks only road through the park.
Definitely not possible, Parks dept would absolutely not allow destruction of park property for such a use case, nor is park land suitable for trucks. It may also be impossible given the terrain and geography of the park, as well as multiple buildings in the way. I think 'environmental disaster' would be the headlines used for such a proposal lol. Much of the park includes piers and water front activities that should remain accessible regardless of construction, so it's not as if the park will be vacated.
ctindel t1_j9wna1c wrote
Because they were idiots and didn't take the time during March and April of 2020 when almost nobody was driving to just close the BQE entirely and bang it out 24x7 nonstop like a Vegas casino project.
fuchsdh t1_ja47qf8 wrote
Hindsight is 20/20. Not going to blame the city in the middle of a massive pandemic for not fast-tracking road fixes (especially since you'd need workers in a time before vaccines and high Covid lethality to do it.)
ctindel t1_ja4lmn5 wrote
It’s not a “road” is a massive arterial highway that is falling down. They should have ready to go plans on the shelf like Moses did so when an opportunity arises they can jump on it quickly. Construction work was one of the necessary jobs like grocery stores and first responders IIRC and it was outdoors so it was pretty safe.
WikiSummarizerBot t1_j9uqbxj wrote
>The State Route 99 tunnel, also known as the Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement tunnel, is a bored highway tunnel in the city of Seattle, Washington, United States. The 2-mile (3. 2 km), double-decker tunnel carries a section of State Route 99 (SR 99) under Downtown Seattle from SoDo in the south to South Lake Union in the north. Since the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, the replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct had been the source of much political controversy demonstrating the Seattle process.
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KaiDaiz t1_j9vcxu1 wrote
Also love that we considering a pricey tunnel to improve the neighborhood, and air quality in one of the priciest parts of Brooklyn when we still debating capping highways in poor areas of Bronx that's been asking for a long time.
Tunnel idea basically a want idea to boast their land values & remove the unsightly expressway blocking their views. Fix that road as is, if they want a different route do it and we think about capping it in the future.
TeamMisha t1_j9wgiap wrote
I agree, CBE seems more pressing tbh when there is already a proposal for the BQE to rebuild the cantilever into a basic and cheaper to maintain box-structure with park space on top. DOT is kicking off a multi-million dollar study for the CBE but I don't foresee capping ever happening really
Bertie_Woo t1_j9yq1li wrote
The Brooklyn Heights section is also uniquely owned by the city. I think the wealthy Brooklyn Heights residents should buy bonds to fund the tunnel/park. The completed project would benefit everyone.
Ok_Yogurtcloset8915 t1_ja0jbwz wrote
great, let's set the precedent that neighborhoods only get the infrastructure they can directly fund, that definitely won't backfire
Bertie_Woo t1_ja0li20 wrote
I don't think they even have enough money to directly fund it fully. All the NY Moses highways were originally funded by bonds. Seems fair that they would be buried with a similar mechanism.
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