OPINION: The Time To Cap the Cross Bronx Is Now

StreetsBlog NYC ^ | 4/23/21 | Ed García Conde

[Impala64ssa]

A little known fact, those families who lived in the apartments that were demolished to make way for the expressway, White, Black, Latino, etc were well compensated, most of them were able to afford to live in better neighborhoods, some had the means to use that dough to put down on homes in the suburbs. It was actually a blessing in disguise for many, thanks to that "racist" monster Robert Moses. What will "capping" the highway do for the horrendous traffic jams and accidents the Cross Bronx Distressway is known for? And would such a project require more property acquisitions and demolitions? Kinda like destroying the neighborhood in order to save it.

[Fiji Hill]

Wouldn’t closing the freeways create gridlock on the surface streets?

[Clemenza]

You probably already know that Robert Moses never had a driver’s license himself. ;)

I do believe that the Cross Bronx was a major reason why the adjoining neighborhoods became the worst in the city. Those who got a payout (including and especially property owners) took it and were not going to reinvest with the threat of further widening. Also consider the fact that the Bronx was “the suburbs” until after World War II - those fireproofed buildings with high ceilings were paradise for those leaving Manhattan from the 1910s to 1930s.

[Wuli]

bookmark for later reading, gotta run

[Boogieman]

“When the pandemic hit, The Bronx, with its largely Black and Latino population, registered the highest death rate in the city and one of the highest in the nation”

Lolololol, I’m sure it’s the ‘rona that is fueling the death rates in the Bronx, and nothing else.

[monkeyshine]

Of course. And more pollution as cars idle longer in the city streets where people walk and exercise. These people are morons. Or they are looking for more reasons to make EVs mandatory.

[Boogieman]

“deck parks also place vehicles in a tunnel, thereby reducing noise and air pollution in surrounding neighborhoods”

Do people actually believe that the pollution is staying inside the tunnel and not being immediately vented outside?!?

[Political Junkie Too]

Wouldn’t closing the freeways create gridlock on the surface streets?

If I'm reading this article properly (and other web searches), "capping" a freeway means building over it or enclosing parts of it.

Essentially, capping a freeway means building park space over it, or retail space, or other improvements.

Artist rendition of capping I-405 in Portland, Oregon

Capping I-5 in Seattle, Washington

-PJ

[Impala64ssa]

Manu Pt Authority cops and maintenance workers who spent most of their shifts in the tunnels ended up with serious respiratory problems.

[SamAdams76]

Maybe so but elevated highways are not only an eyesore (and very noisy) but definitely affects quality of life in a neighborhood in a very negative way.

I worked in Boston during the 1980s and my territory wen from the North End into South Boston. I cursed that elevated central expressway that ran through it. It cast a huge shadow over the area and all you heard all day was clattering trucks and noisy airbrakes above you as well as a nonstop rattling noise.

When they finally tore that thing down, it became very nice to walk around that area. Yes, it was the Big Dig and billions of dollars got wasted on graft and other corruption to put it all underground. But that's a separate issue. It needed to be done and Boston is much better for it.

[mrsmith]

Seems like there would be an economic inventive because the “caps” would create a marketable place for building in an area that land costs are high.
Seems a five or ten story “cap” would be very profitable. But would need roadway access... and, of course, wouldn’t reward Dem eco donors with what they want- money.

[Gene Eric]

>> So when Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that racism is built into our country’s highways, it wasn’t hyperbole,

Yeah, it’s hyperbole. The guy’s an a-hole.

[gr8eman]

NYC is presently being destroyed in order to save it. Facts never get in the way of the grievance mongers. Who cares what race the people were whose buildings got bought out? It’s the Bronx for chrissakes. I’m surprised they haven’t torn down Yankee stadium yet, because we all know Babe Ruth was a racist/misogynist!

[wildcard_redneck]

The capped part of I-10 in downtown Phoenix and I think that is has worked out.

Here is an aerial picture of Margaret T Hanse Park over I-10 in Phoenix.

[Impala64ssa]

Yes, much of the Bronx especially the eastern part was pretty much rural until the post WW2 building boom. The Parkchester Apt Complex, that”Bronx tenement” AOC bragged about being born in was built over what was mainly farmland. Across the Hutchinson River Pkwy from where we lived was one of the first auto racing tracks built in the US, next to the old New Haven RR tracks(Metro North), now part of he Einstein Med Center

[Brian Griffin]

“more than 200,000 vehicles spewing toxic fumes and particles such as nitric oxide into the air each day”

Under our President’s plan by 2050 there will be no such vehicles on that road.

[Brian Griffin]

“Imagine a day in the future when you can walk across a park instead of a highway spewing deadly pollutants.”

So until 2050, when our President’s climate plan is perfected, the motorists will be choking on their own fumes?

[Brian Griffin]

“The Cross Bronx Expressway” is part of I-95.

[RossA]

Utter nonsense. The displaced got screwed. Read The Power Broker for some real life stories.

[discostu]

I’ve driven that tunnel many times, as it’s between Tucson and concert venues. I did not know there was something nice on top.