Last Friday night was the commute from hell for anybody trying to get through the Lincoln Tunnel. It was the third time in a month something suspicious had been found in the tunnel: this time, two liquid-filled bottles glued to the median. Channel 5 News says the incidents appear to be linked:
"I would say they're studying what's going on at the tunnel," said Paul Nunziato of the Port Authority P.B.A. "Because they've been able to do it, 7 bottles placed on one of the busiest roadways in the world and no one sees them no one caught an eye on them, including the cameras."It's clear that someone or some group is behind all three incidents, the question -- is it a prank or a test? If it's a test, one security expert says the Port Authority fails.
If it's a test, we hope the Port Authority starts studying. Telecommuting anyone?
Comments (13)
Great, just what I need- more commuters taking the train!!! It would make a lot more sense for a terrorist to take out the train while its in the tunnel then the lincoln (wait, is the train tunnel technically called the lincoln too?)
I think the PA does a terrible job in handling these incidences. There's no good reason traffic should have been tied up for more than 2 hours last Friday.
There are not cameras covering every foot of the tunnel? The literal choke point for NYC's economy? And they're putting up red-light cameras?
Talk about misplaced priorities.
I've gotta say, having gotten a heads up on Twitter about the tunnel being closed during the 6p hour, and heading my usual route to the ferry down on 39th, I was amazed at how "fragile" something like this makes our commute look.
There was a line from the ticket booth at the 39th street ferry terminal, to up beyond 42nd and in the ballpark of 43rd, where Circle Line has its boats. It was insane. As I happen to run out of 10-trip tickets that morning, I didn't have a new ticket, and it was actually faster - by about an hour - for my fiancee to come down the hill in Weehawken, buy tickets, come across, get me, and go back - than it was for me to wait on line. And that was just what the overload from the buses did to the ferry, not counting the train(s) or anyone who went to the bridge or elsewhere.
If this is a prank, it's a pretty crazy one. I'm sorry to say that it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't, though. I don't get how NO ONE sees this done. It's not like anyone's flying up the helix fast enough miss someone out of the vehicle or at least leaning out of one.
How do you do something like this? You have a few cars that are working together. Choose a tunnel tube that is one-way, and have the car with the "device" enter the tunnel first. Trailing this car, have 2 cars enter the tunnel, one in each of the 2 lanes. The two trailing cars slow down and create a space between them and the car with the "device", so that the lead car has time to slow down and plant the package without being seen. Once the package is planted all cars can speed up to catch the traffic ahead.
It would not be difficult to map out where the cameras are located in the tunnel and pick a spot that is not covered.
Spicoli did it.
I wonder if some crazy PA cop is behind it all. That person would have the access needed and likely go unnoticed by other cops.
It bothers me that they don't have the incidents on camera. Or if they do, then they need to tell the public, instead of keeping it a secret.
Yeah, Spicoli, but the incidents last week weren't inside the tunnel--the first was up on 495 and the second was on the helix. Sure, you could create a jam, but not one with such obstructed view like the one you propose. Still, ROC is right: there aren't enough cameras deployed at the tunnel or its approaches.
I suppose the Port Authority cops are downtown at the WTC site watching the construction workers. We still have our heads in the sand, don't we ?
What's incredible is that this is happening seven years after 9-11. Seven years! Why did it take the pranksters- terrorists so long to think of this?
Well, cops have arrested a guy and are looking for a second one, according to channel 4. Nothing on their website yet.
If my husband's company would just join the 20th century and let him telecommute - his job is done entirely via phone and email - then we would be almost completely withdrawing our contributions to the traffic and air pollution situation in Essex county, before you could say "greener than thou".
An unknown liquid? Really?! They can't figure out what the liquid is? Where is it from, Neptune?