Eastern terminus of 179th Street Tunnel

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Information about this lot

Address: (street address unknown), Manhattan

Area: 0.02 acres (793 square feet)

Political Boundaries

City Council District 10 represented by Carmen De La Rosa

Community District Manhattan 12 ( ebsmith@cb.nyc.gov / 212-568-8500 ), district manager: Ebenezer Smith

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Why is this lot here?

We think this lot is vacant because:

The lot was added manually by site admins.

Government Agency

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (public)

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Add a note file photo

Feb. 5, 2017, 5:41 p.m.

Ira Gershenhorn posted

The tunnel on Jan 29, 2017 This tunnel entrance also appears cemented up. The tunnel entrance exists in a fenced in NYC DEP area. I was expecting this to be a Port Authority area. I think it is DEP because of the proximity of water shaft #25. I say "think" because this is not confirmed. Gaining access to this area for the purpose of taking a photo has been refused by the NYC DEP because it is their policy not to allow photos of infrastructure. I will have to return and hopefully the truck is parked in a location that doesn't block my photo through the fencing.

Dec. 24, 2016, 10:16 a.m.

Ira Gershenhorn posted

Reconstruction This photo is from the NYS Photo Archives. It shows the context of the 179th Street Tunnel.<br> This is not a clickable link. You will have to copy/paste this to your browser. http://digitalcollections.archives.nysed.gov/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/27487 The information associated with the photo is: Aerial view of overlooking the construction site for the building of approaches to the George Washington Bridge that crosses the Hudson River from Washington Heights in Manhattan to Fort Lee New Jersey. An avenue and city buildings on one side, a road running along the river, and a road … [more] Identifier: NYSA_B1598-99_B1F71_51-1474 Date: June 1 1951 Language: English Repository: New York State Archives Source: New York State Archives, Aerial photographic prints and negatives of New York State sites, 1941-1957, B1598-99 Box 1, Folder 71, Negative Number 51-1474 Rights: This image is provided for education and research purposes. Rights may be reserved. Responsibility for securing permissions to distribute, publish, reproduce or other use rest with the user. For additional information see our Copyright and Use Statement. Alternate Identifier: DMS ID Number: 144406 Relation: Is part of: New York State Archives. Aerial photographic prints and negatives of New York State sites, 1941-1957., Is format of: Digital representation of an 8x10 inch negative in the New York State Archives. Aerial photographic prints and negatives of New York State sites, 1941-1957. Related collections Aerial photographic prints and negatives of New York State sites (is part of) Related places Manhattan (is associated with) This photo clearly shows 178th through 181st streets (left to right). Eventually the buildings between 178th and 179th would be removed to build the Trans Manhattan Expressway. One can easily see that the building just east of Amsterdam avenue is in a direct line to the Water Shaft #25 building.

Dec. 24, 2016, 10:06 a.m.

Ira Gershenhorn posted

Traffic entering/exiting 179th Street tunnel This photo is from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York and can be accessed here. Unfortunately, this is not a clickable link. You will have to copy/paste this into your browser. http://collections.mcny.org/C.aspx?VP3=SearchResult&VBID=24UAYWE2AX3D0&SMLS=1&RW=1493&RH=918 The information with the photo is: For 34 Years of Loyal Service - Eric S. Barron [Aerial view from Highbridge Park to Amsterdam Avenue.] Date:1957 Eric Barron worked for the Port Authority for 34 years on projects like the Holland Tunnel, La Guardia and Kennedy Airports, among many others.

Dec. 24, 2016, 12:46 a.m.

Ira Gershenhorn said

There are two wiki articles about the 179th Street Tunnel.
http://www.wikiwand.com/en/178th%E2%80%93179th_Street_Tunnels
and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/178th%E2%80%93179th_Street_Tunnels

Of the two articles, the WikiWand article has more information.

Both articles say the tunnel is used as storage space by the Port Authority.

This url http://www.nycroads.com/roads/trans-manhattan/ contains an excellent presentation on the creation of the 178th and 179th street tunnels, their current usage and potential reuse. Be patient, the url takes a long time to load. The important information is at the end.

I believe that the nycroads url says this 179th Street tunnel opened in 1952 and the 178th street tunnel opened in 1940. Also, according to that url, the Washington Bridge over the Harlem River was built in 1888.

This roadmap from 1954, pre-Cross Bronx Expwy, shows the access ramps from the 178th and 179th street tunnels to the Washington Bridge. There's no Alexander Hamilton Bridge yet.

https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/img4/ht_icons/Browse/NY/NY_Central%20Park_122895_1956_24000.jpg

Dec. 24, 2016, 12:45 a.m.

Ira Gershenhorn posted

Aerial view showing access If you enter from Amsterdam Avenue between 180th and 181th, you will go by the old tunnel prior to entering the Trans-Manhattan Expressway.

Dec. 24, 2016, 12:42 a.m.

Ira Gershenhorn posted

View from upper roadway This is approaching on the upper roadway. The tunnel entrance is on the right.