Table of Contents

NYBC Recognizes Industry Trio
Developers Discover Brooklyn
Hevesi Details City’s Aging Infrastructure
Task Force Explores Gowanus Options
SCA Addresses Capacity Needs
Construction Firms Go Hi-Tech
NYBC Salutes Members

The Gowanus Elevated Expressway is one of New York City’s most important arteries for truck freight and a critical link tothe rest of New York City and the Interstate Highway System. After 50 years of use, the Gowanus is in need of major reconstruction, and City, State and regional public officials and transportation advocates are touting various plans.

In response to debate regarding a tunnel option, the New York Building Congress convened a task force to examine its feasibility and likely cost. Over the past year, the Gowanus Expressway Task Force, which is chaired by George A. Fox and comprises 18 other Building Congress members, has met with key decision-makers and has been exploring alternatives from numerous angles, including cost, feasibility of constrution, environmental impact and traffic flow.

The task force concluded, for example, that a deep-bore tunnel would be very difficult in New York City due to its high cost of construction, complexity and the need for larger capacity than such a tunnel normally provides. The task force also has been studying other tunnel options, reconstruction of the current elevated expressway and the possibility of replacing it with a depressed roadway.

“Building Congress members bring their wide-ranging areas of expertise and a wealth of experience to the table, and project-specific task forces, such as this one, serve many useful purposes,” said Mr. Fox.“The goal is not to steer key decision-makers to a certain conclusion but to facilitate an informed debate and free exchange of ideas,” he added.