Hugh L. Carey Tunnel Back To Normal Traffic Flow For Monday Morning Commute
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Traffic flow will be back to normal Monday morning in the Hugh L. Carey Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel for the first time since superstorm Sandy flooded the tube.
Three lanes in both directions will be fully operational in time for the Monday morning commute, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.
This includes contraflow traffic (three lanes into Manhattan from Brooklyn) from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and bi-directional truck traffic.
Contraflow operations could not immediately resume because the computer circuit board that controls the overhead traffic signals inside the tunnel was destroyed. It took several weeks for the necessary replacement parts to be delivered and the repairs made.
"This announcement is yet another step toward normalcy after this devastating storm, and this extra lane will provide more relief for Manhattan bound commuters during the morning rush hour during this busy holiday season," Cuomo said.
Both tubes were reopened to traffic excluding trucks on Nov. 19 as the further repairs were made.
The tunnel that connects lower Manhattan to Brooklyn took on roughly 80 million gallons of water from the Brooklyn side during the storm surge.
The tunnel carries approximately 400 New York City Transit and MTA Bus vehicles each weekday, and those carry approximately 40,000 commuters.
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