Truck Gets Stuck in Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, Snarling Traffic for Hours

An over-height tractor-trailer got stuck in the ceiling of the Hugh L. Carey (Brooklyn-Battery) Tunnel’s Brooklyn-bound tube Thursday morning, snarling traffic for hours in one of the key crossings between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The truck entered the tube around 10:15 a.m., MTA Bridges & Tunnels said, “ignor[ing] multiple warnings from … officers not to enter the tunnel as well as signs posted at the entry to the tunnel warning motorists about a height restriction of 12”1’. In addition, the tunnel entered by this truck was marked closed, indicated by a large red ‘X’ over the entrance.”

The truck, which was carrying paint and headed to Port Washington, Long Island, got stuck about a mile into the 1.7-mile tunnel.

MTA and FDNY emergency personnel used heavy-duty cutting equipment to remove parts of the trailer and truck to allow it to be towed out. The truck was fully removed from the tunnel shortly after 12:00 p.m.

MTA engineers are performing safety inspections on the ceiling of the tunnel from the Brooklyn end to the midpoint, to ensure it is structurally sound to be able to reopen to traffic for the afternoon rush hour.

The truck driver was issued summonses for alleged offenses including traveling in an HOV lane, disobeying posted over-height warning signs, damage to property, failure to obey an officer, driving an unregistered vehicle, and operating with a flat tire.

Photos by Marc A. Hermann/MTA