WTC Concourse Reopens For First Time Since 9/11
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A commuter concourse underneath the World Trade Center site that has been closed since the Sept. 11 attacks is open.
Photos: WTC Concourse Set To Reopen
The opening of the passageway marks a major milestone in the area's redevelopment and an added convenience for tens of thousands of commuters. For 12 years, commuters have had to cross traffic along the busy West Side Highway or use a pedestrian bridge over West Street, that is being dismantled, to navigate the area, CBS 2's Janelle Burrell reported.
WTC Concourse Set To Reopen For First Time Since 9/11
The underground passageway links the PATH station entrance on West Broadway and Vesey Street with Brookfield Place, which will eventually include retail and dining.
The 8,000 square foot facility is complete with two lattice supports beams on either side and six escalators, giving the public access to the tunnel.
The Brookfield Place glass-enclosed pavilion also opened on Thursday.
"Travelers will now be able to go from the Hudson River on the west to the Path system on the east all in a climate-controlled aesthetically-pleasing environment," said Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye.
With cold weather on its way commuters told CBS 2's Alice Gainer that they were looking forward to being protected from the elements.
"It's gonna be great. With the winter definitely arriving or the fall arriving it will help," Cheryl Witkowski said.
WTC Concourse Set To Reopen For First Time Since 9/11
The renovation of the concourse is part of a nearly $4 billion redevelopment of the World Trade Center site that includes a new transportation hub scheduled to be completed by 2015.
The entire transportation hub will span 800,000 square feet and will eventually connect to the subway as well, CBS 2 reported.
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