Dear Transit Sam,
On many traffic sites, it’s been stated that because of the long term construction on Hudson Street, cars traveling northbound on Westside Highway will be allowed to make a right turn onto Canal Street in order to access the Holland Tunnel. Sadly, someone didn’t inform NYPD. They’re not allowing vehicles to make the right turn onto Canal Street. Vehicles traveling north below Canal have very few options to get to the tunnel. It makes no sense to make those vehicles go above Canal, then turn right on Spring St. and make a right at Varick St. to then go south for the tunnel.
Lee, Barclay St.
Dear Lee,
Lower Manhattan is so intricate with so many construction closures (see infinite loop letter below) that if a feather lands in the Hudson River, there’s a traffic jam in Tribeca. OK, I’m exaggerating. But, the Hudson St. closure to the Holland Tunnel comes on the heels of Chambers St. being made westbound at West St. So now cars can no longer access Tribeca by turning left at Chambers and now do so in droves at Canal. That means Canal and southbound West St. get so backed up that NYPD has little choice but to ban the right turns from northbound West St. to Canal at times. But after my discussions with them, they’ll try to keep that right turn open as long as possible.
Transit Sam
Dear Transit Sam,
I work in the City Hall area. For years, I’d take a cab down West Side Highway and turn left on Murray. At Greenwich, all traffic must turn right. I would then make a left onto Park Place to City Hall. Now that left turn is prohibited and you’re sent down Greenwich to Barclay and back to the West Side Highway where you just came from. Traffic is literally directed to go around in a circle. It reminds me of that episode of “the Simpsons” where Homer is stuck in a London circle for hours. Please fix this.
Bob, City Hall
Dear Bob,
You found Manhattan’s infinite loop! Once you enter Murray St. from West St. you must end up where you started (unless you’re gobbled by the Manhattan Triangle). Blame it all on Osama Bin Laden. The Park Place outlet has now been closed since that’s the block where Park51, the proposed Islamic Center, is to be located (just a few blocks from the WTC site). With all the heated rhetoric about the site, NYPD decided to close the street to vehicular traffic. In the meantime, I have asked NYC DOT to post “No outlet” signs at West and Murray. Hopefully by the time you read this, you’ve found your way out of the loop!
Transit Sam
Keep me posted on Holland tunnel traffic and other transportation queries. E-mail me at TransitSam@downtownexpress.com or write Transit Sam, 611 Broadway, Suite 415, New York, NY 10012.
