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DOT Says Rector Street Bridge Stays
But this summer, the Battery Park City Authority called for the bridge to remain for at least three more years, citing the lack of plans for a permanent replacement. And now, according to the state’s Department of Transportation (DOT), the bridge may still be standing 10 years from now. On Nov. 9, representatives from the DOT appeared before the community board’s Battery Park City committee to present their plans for the reconstruction of West Street, also known as Route 9A. There are still no plans for a permanent bridge in the area, the officials said.Instead, they are narrowing the bridge and the stairs on the east side of the highway, and making extensive repairs to the structure. The improvements will allow the transportation agency to shave the bridge’s foundation down, allowing for necessary highway construction. The renovation would also allow the bridge to last at least another ten years. The lawn area on the Rector Street bridge’s west side had been slated for basketball courts and community gardens. DOT officials said that park development in this portion would have to wait until the bridge came down, whenever that might be. “There are discussions about how long the bridge will be there,” said Chris Cotter, of the DOT, “but the bottom line is that it’s going to stay in place a little while longer. And because of that, the area underneath is going to need to be deferred.” All of this came as a surprise to members of the Battery Park City committee. “We’ve had myriad discussions about this area,” responded committee chair Linda Belfer, “and nobody ever said to us that ‘we aren’t going to be able to complete the park until the bridge comes down, and the bridge is not going to come down when you think it’s going to come down.’” Committee member Jeff Galloway agreed. “I don’t think anybody in the community understood that those basketball courts and community gardens would not be available in mid-2009 when this project was completed,” he said. “I’d personally like to see the bridge come down coincident with the completion of construction, and not have it delay the opening of the park.” Most members of the committee, however, appeared to be in favor of keeping the temporary bridge until something more permanent could be erected. “I guess my view of the bridge is that it’s a necessity,” said committee member Bill Love. “It’s unfortunate that it’s impacting development there, but it does provide important access across West Street, particularly to the subways.” Richard Schmalz, the project director for the reconstruction of Route 9A, said the decision to revamp the bridge rather than tear it down at the conclusion of the reconstruction had been reached in concert with the Battery Park City Authority, because both parties felt a pedestrian bridge was necessary in the area. Both the Authority and the transportation department were quick to say the bridge would not necessarily be up for 10 years, if interested parties could decide on where a permanent bridge should go. The Battery Park City committee and the Authority have floated the idea of bridges at various locations, particularly Morris Street. But these have proven problematic. In the case of Morris Street, many of the buildings on the east side of West Street (where the bridge would land) are landmarked. And there is no consensus about where the bridge would land on the Battery Park City side, either. The DOT has also proposed installing a pedestrian bridge in the vicinity of the Battery Tunnel, but residents have argued that such a location would be too far south to serve as a replacement for the Rector Street location. The future of the lawn near the Rector Street bridge seemed to be the chief concern of committee members and the dozen or so residents that came to the meeting to hear about the reconstruction of Route 9A. Leticia Remauro, spokeswoman for the BPC Authority, pointed out that temporary recreational elements could be installed in the lawn at the foot of the bridge, until the bridge could be removed and more permanent amenities constructed. “We really need to figure out together what that needs to be,” she said. “It could be maybe some gardens and maybe one basketball court.” All around the room heads nodded. The lawn area is much smaller than the final plans, without the bridge, call for. Bridge components like the footing and the ramp constrict the area and there is also less head room in some areas due to the ramp. But Shmalz said he is willing to listen to the community, once the community makes up its mind. “We would modify the plans if the community board decides they don’t want the bridge,” said Shmalz following the meeting. He said the transportation department needed a decision by next month. Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in April. The entire reconstruction of the street is estimated to last until mid-2009. The Battery Park City committee will invite the community to comment on the Rector Street Bridge at its December meeting, and convey the results to the Battery Park City Authority and the state DOT. “I think we need to schedule a discussion and invite people to come in,” said chair Linda Belfer. “I think we need to put it out as ‘to be or not to be’ and let people come and discuss the bridge.”
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