Queens-Midtown Tunnel Springs Leak After Contractor Accidentally Drills Hole

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New York City, September 4, 2024 — A busy underwater tunnel beneath New York City's East River experienced an unexpected leak on Wednesday after a contractor accidentally drilled a hole into it. The incident disrupted traffic in the heavily used Queens-Midtown Tunnel, leaving officials scrambling to plug the breach and manage the chaos.

Incident Details:

• Date & Time: September 4, 2024, at approximately 12:30 PM
• Location: Manhattan side of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel
• Tunnel Usage: Around 100,000 vehicles pass through daily

Cathy Sheridan, President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels, stated that the contractor, Warren George, inadvertently drilled a 2.5-inch (6.3-cm) hole through the tunnel’s cast iron lining. This breach allowed water to pour through the tunnel’s overhead exhaust ducts, startling drivers below.

“There are many redundancies in the tunnel but, you know, when someone drills through all those layers, it’s going to cause a leak,” Sheridan explained at a press conference.

Public Response & Impact: Videos circulating on social media show water cascading from the tunnel’s vents, sparking concerns among commuters. In one video, a distressed driver is heard asking, “Tell me why the tunnel is leaking? What’s going on here?” Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

The drilling was part of a city project for a new esplanade near the United Nations building. Josh Krauss, Chief Infrastructure Officer at the city's Economic Development Corporation, elaborated on the contractor's work: “A drilling contractor...accidentally perforated a small amount in the outside edge of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.”

Conclusion: While the leak did not cause any injuries, the incident disrupted traffic and raised concerns about safety procedures. Officials are conducting a thorough investigation to ensure similar accidents do not occur in the future. As investigations continue, authorities urge drivers to be cautious and expect delays when using the tunnel in the coming days.

Source: The Independent