Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel Reopens to Cars

The Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel is opening to cars traveling in peak directions more than two weeks after it was flooded as Sandy blew through the tri-state.

Officials said the eastern tube, which normally carries Manhattan-bound traffic, will be open to Brooklyn-bound traffic during the evening rush and Manhattan-bound cars for the morning rush.

The tube will be open to Manhattan-bound traffic from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and to Brooklyn-bound from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., officials said.

The west tube of the tunnel, which carries 50,000 vehicles a day, remains closed for repairs.

MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said the tunnel was flooded with an estimated 43 million gallons of seawater, which caused extensive damage. More than 1 mile of its 9,000 feet were flooded, officials said.

Trucks are still not being allowed into the eastern tube.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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