Water continues to be pumped out of road tunnels in New York, a week on from Superstorm Sandy which hit America’s east coast.

Worst affected were tunnels linking Manhattan with the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. Twin bores at both the Hugh L Carey and Queens Midtown tunnels were filled from floor to ceiling during the height of the storm. An estimated 43M gallons of water flooded the Carey tunnel, which remains closed, and 30M gallons entered the Queens tunnel where a bus only lane has been restored.

Most subway lines are running a restricted service as efforts continue to dry out flooded tubes, track and components including signals. All of the city’s bridges are open and tolls on two crossings have been suspended.

New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said on Monday: “Today was the first workday in a week when our subways were back in operation. Things there, I’m happy to report, went relatively smoothly and will almost certainly improve in the days ahead."

On this side of the Atlantic flood management specialists have been taking note of the huge impact Superstorm Sandy had on New York’s transportation networks. But agencies in the UK are confident that such a situation is unlikely to be repeated in London.

A Transport for London spokesman said that New York “is not comparable” to London, because the American city “is by the sea and we have the Thames Barrier”. The Environment Agency said that there are ongoing discussions about protecting the capital from flooding, but added that “the Thames Barrier is a pretty effective mechanism as it stands” and there are “no particular plans” to improve the structure.

Photo: MTA New York City Transit/Leonard Wiggins

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