Peace Bridge Expansion tunnel could improve Front Park view
Western New York leaders are looking for federal funding to possibly add a tunnel to Peace Bridge Expansion plans. It’s an effort to remove “Ramp B” blocking the bluff overlooking the Niagara River and Lake Erie. YNN’s Nicki Mayo reports how the effort would impact an Olmsted Park and residents on the lower Westside.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. -- “Leave the situation as it is. Move the trucks to the proper location, not here!” said Carole Pearla interrupting a press conference in Front Park.
Several Columbus Parkway protestors say all they see is their community getting overrun with political projects that pollute the air.
The Columbus Parkway resident stood among protesters who are fuming over the emissions coming from Peace Bridge traffic. The group says expansion plans should focus on improving air quality, not the aesthetics around Front Park.
“The trucks are making this area sick. Not only in this neighborhood. It filters all the way through, all the way down for like a mile,” said Pearla.
“It’s not about trucks, it’s about people,” said Congressman Brian Higgins.
The 27th District democrat wants to get rid of the ramp leading from The Peace Bridge Plaza to southbound I-190 and put a tunnel in its place. Rep. Higgins expects the Federal Highway Administration to green light plans in June. The $750million dollar public works project is expected to provide thousands of construction jobs.
Rep. Brian Higgins says the Peace Bridge Expansion plan is expected to provide thousands of construction jobs.
“It’s very important for the economic viability of Buffalo and Western new York. The Peace Bridge is the busiest northern crossing between the United States and Canada,” Higgins said.
“We are looking forward to hosting our many visitors in a beautifully restored Olmsted landscape,” said Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy CEO Thomas Herrera-Mishler.
Landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted envisioned Front Park as a gateway where visitors could look across and see the water toward Fort Erie, Canada. “Ramp B” and the traffic that comes down from the Peace Bridge Plaza are blocking much of the view. Supporters of the tunnel project hope this will be an opportunity to right a historic wrong.
Tunnel supporters want to remove “Ramp B” which blocks the bluff overlooking the Niagara River and Lake Erie.
“When you stand here and watch the sunset in the summer time or you watch the new Peace Bridge when it’s built you’ll be able to look in the distance and see the distance very clearly from here,” said Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Chairman David J. Colligan.
Several Columbus Parkway protestors say all they see is their community getting overrun with political projects.
“They wouldn’t think of doing this in Delaware Park, South Buffalo, Amherst, Grand Island. They wouldn’t think of doing that there,” said Columbus Parkway resident Elizabeth Martina.