After Decades, Crossroads Reopen at World Trade Center Site

In late June, pedestrians were able to use crossroads in lower Manhattan that have not been used since the 1960s. The crossroads were initially taken over by the construction of the original World Trade Center towers, and after September 11, 2001, the area was closed to the public and the site was dedicated to rescue and recovery workers. Most recently, the crossroads have been part of the new World Trade Center construction site.

Due to this new construction, the crossroads are again available for public use. The roads lead to a series of new buildings that have risen out of the wreckage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, including the National September 11 Memorial Museum. Currently, the north, west and south routes of these intersections are available for use, whereas the east remains under construction. Despite being open to pedestrians, the crossroads are closed to traffic for fear of motor vehicle-related terrorist threats.

A new approach

According to Patrick J. Foye, executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in the areas where construction has occurred, there has been an emphasis on contemporary values of transit-oriented development that allows pedestrians to travel efficiently to their destination.

Many of those traveling in the area will be the millions who visit the National September 11 Memorial Museum each year. The director of construction says that the new crossroads will allow better access to the memorial, and museum workers have demonstrated support of the open crossroads, intending to leverage the new space for the museum’s long queue.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11 continue to impact people to this day, and some people are still dealing with health effects related to their work on or near Ground Zero. If you would like to learn more about the potential benefits available to you, speak with a skilled New York personal injury attorney at Barasch & McGarry