Bklyn-Battery Tunnel Live Cam

Connects Southwestern Brooklyn with the Wall St. area of Manhattan

I-278 at Adams Street


I-278 at Middagh Street/Uppr Lvl.


I-278 at Middagh Street/Lwr. Lvl.


Source: WXYZ Webcams

History

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, officially known as the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, is a tunnel that connects Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City. It is named after Hugh L. Carey, a former governor of New York.

The idea for a tunnel connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan dates back to the early 20th century, but it wasn't until the 1930s that serious planning began. Construction on the tunnel began in 1940, and it was completed in 1950.

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was originally designed as a two-tube tunnel, with one tube carrying traffic in each direction. However, after the September 11th terrorist attacks in 2001, the tunnel was temporarily closed due to damage caused by flooding from the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings. As part of the rebuilding effort, the tunnel was renovated and a third tube was added to provide extra capacity and redundancy.

The tunnel is approximately 1.7 miles long and can accommodate cars, buses, and trucks. It is a critical transportation link between Brooklyn and Manhattan, with an average daily traffic volume of around 47,000 vehicles.

Over the years, the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel has undergone various renovations and upgrades to keep up with the demands of modern transportation. It remains an important part of the New York City transportation system and a vital link for commuters and businesses alike.

  • The tunnel was originally known as the Battery Tunnel, but was renamed the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel in 2010 in honor of the former New York governor who passed away in 2011.
  • The tunnel was built using a technique called the "cut-and-cover" method, which involves excavating a trench and then covering it with a roof.
  • The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was the first tunnel in the world to use a mechanical ventilation system. The system circulates fresh air into the tunnel and removes toxic fumes.
  • The tunnel was designed to be able to withstand a nuclear blast, with reinforced walls and an air filtration system to protect occupants from radiation.
  • The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was closed for several months after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, as it suffered significant damage from flooding. The tunnel underwent a $300 million renovation project to repair the damage and improve its resilience.
  • The tunnel was featured in the movie "The French Connection" in a famous car chase scene.
  • The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1975.
  • In addition to cars, buses, and trucks, the tunnel is also used by cyclists during the annual Five Boro Bike Tour.

Historical Facts

  • The idea for a tunnel linking Brooklyn and Manhattan dates back to the early 1900s, when engineers and city planners recognized the need for additional transportation options between the two boroughs.
  • Planning for the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel began in the late 1920s, but construction was delayed by the Great Depression.
  • Construction on the tunnel began on October 28, 1940, with Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia driving the first ceremonial rivet. The project was financed with federal funds as part of the New Deal program.
  • The construction of the tunnel was a massive undertaking, involving thousands of workers and complex engineering techniques. The tunnel was built using the cut-and-cover method, with workers excavating a trench and then covering it with a roof.
  • The tunnel was officially opened to traffic on May 25, 1950, with a ceremony attended by President Harry S. Truman.
  • The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel was the longest underwater tunnel in the world when it opened, and it remains one of the largest vehicular tunnels in the United States.
  • The tunnel played a critical role in the transportation of goods and materials during World War II, as it provided a direct link between the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Manhattan.
  • Over the years, the tunnel has undergone various upgrades and renovations to keep up with the demands of modern transportation, including the addition of a third tube in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks.
  • Today, the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel remains an important part of the New York City transportation system, providing a critical link between two of the city's most populous boroughs.
Geography

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is a vehicular tunnel that runs underneath the East River, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan in New York City. The tunnel begins in Brooklyn near the intersection of Hamilton Avenue and Court Street, and ends in Manhattan near the intersection of West Street and Battery Place.

The tunnel is approximately 1.7 miles long and consists of three tubes: the original two-tube tunnel, which opened in 1950, and a third tube that was added in 2012 as part of a renovation project following the September 11th attacks.

The tunnel is situated at a depth of approximately 90 feet below the surface of the East River, and it is lined with reinforced concrete walls and ceilings. The tunnel's roadway is divided into two levels, with each level containing two lanes of traffic. The tunnel can accommodate cars, buses, and trucks, and it is a critical transportation link between Brooklyn and Manhattan, with an average daily traffic volume of around 47,000 vehicles.

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is located in the southwestern part of Brooklyn and the southern part of Manhattan, near several major landmarks and attractions. In Brooklyn, the tunnel is located near the Red Hook neighborhood, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. In Manhattan, the tunnel is located near Battery Park, the World Trade Center site, and the Financial District.

Landmarks in Manhattan

New York City is still one of the top vacation places in the world despite the hustle and bustle that pervade its streets and boroughs. Nicknamed the Big Apple and sometimes “the city that never sleeps,” New York City is home to several world famous landmarks, including the Empire State Building, Fifth Avenue, Wall Street, and the World Trade Center. All these landmarks have become commonplace in pop culture and various types of media, which signifies their importance in global history and modernity as well as the status ascribed to them.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, built in 1930, was then considered the largest commercial venture and investment ever and is recognized as a legend. It is decorated with enormous bronze medallions celebrating the craftsmen who helped construct the building. It is a 102-level Art Deco building situated at the intersection of West 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. It is the second tallest skyscraper in the United States and the ninth tallest in the world. It has one of the most popular observatories in the world that offers 360-degree views of the city. The building has 85 stories of commercial and office space and has an indoor and outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor.

Wall Street

Known as the first permanent home of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Wall Street is located in lower Manhattan. It spans from Broadway to South Street on the East River and extends through the Financial District of the city. Most of the major financial centres in Wall Streetthe U.S. are situated in Wall Street. It has been a global icon of high-level business and finance since World War II and its high status worldwide continues to this day.

World Trade Center

The World Trade Center was a former building in lower Manhattan, New York City which consists of seven buildings and a shopping centre. Prior to its destruction on September 11, 2001 by a terrorist attack, the World Trade Centre had been the biggest commercial complex in the world, which housed international trade organizations, government agencies and several businesses. The center’s most prominent feature was its twin towers, which used to be the tallest buildings in the world. The World Trade Center may have vanished physically but it remains preserved on the pages of history.