Water leaks into Manhattan tunnel because of drilling mistake, snarling visitors

Commuters seeking to drive into Manhattan ought to keep away from the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in any respect prices, as a drilling mistake Wednesday led to water leaking into the tunnel and shutting down each tubes for hours, snarling visitors for miles.

A contractor working for the New York Metropolis Financial Growth Company mistakenly drilled a small gap within the outer casing of the tunnel whereas doing preliminary work on the East River Esplanade round 12:30 p.m., in response to a spokesperson. From that 2.5-inch gap on the surface fringe of the tunnel, water was capable of get into the south tube through the air flow ducts, the spokesperson mentioned, and leak onto automobiles passing by means of.

A video posted by one driver to Facebook confirmed the leaking water splash throughout his windshield.

“Inform me why the tunnel is leaking. What’s occurring right here?” the driving force reacted on the video.

On account of the leak, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority despatched out alerts earlier than 1:30 p.m. that each one lanes in each tubes of the closely trafficked tunnel connecting Manhattan and Queens below the East River had been “quickly closed.” It took about an hour and a half earlier than the north tube may reopen to two-way visitors, officers mentioned.

All lanes in each tubes lastly reopened simply earlier than 6 p.m., and heavy visitors delays lasted for hours, not subsiding till later within the night.

“Engineers are on website to judge any injury and start on repairs, and the northbound tunnel has been quickly transformed to deal with two-way visitors whereas the southbound tunnel is closed,” an EDC spokesperson mentioned. “We’re working intently with Metropolis Corridor, NYCEM, MTA, and different metropolis companies as we proceed to reply.”

The repairs being completed Wednesday evening can be interim fixes, an official mentioned at a press convention, with a everlasting repair anticipated to come back at a later time. However a plug was in place and the leak had subsided, in response to the official.

The contractor, working for firm Warren George, had drilled 100 toes from the floor — 50 toes by means of water and 50 toes by means of soil. Drilling firm Warren George didn’t situation a press release within the aftermath of the leak.

An investigation into what occurred was ongoing.

The MTA, which initially blamed the leak on a water most important break however later deleted their tweet, had mentioned all buses can be detoured and there have been delays on the east facet of Manhattan because of elevated visitors. In response to MTA.information, QM 1/2/3/4/5/6/10/12/20/24/31/32/34/36/40/42/44 buses will use the 59th St Bridge to proceed to the Lengthy Island Expressway in each instructions.

QM 7/8/11/25 buses will use the Williamsburg Bridge.

In the meantime, the Queensboro Bridge is partially closed Wednesday by means of Saturday for the substitute of the higher roadway, in response to the Division of Transportation. Single-lane Manhattan-bound north higher roadway will probably be closed 24 hours from Wednesday to Saturday. Double-lane will probably be closed by means of Friday from 9:30 a.m. to three p.m. and Tuesday to Friday from 8 p.m. to five a.m. the following morning. Queens-bound south outer roadway will probably be closed Sunday to Saturday from 11 p.m. to six a.m. subsequent morning.

The Queens Midtown Tunnel was opened in 1940 to assist relieve congestion on East River bridges.