History of Route 9A

In the early 20th century, the West Side of Manhattan was congested with shipping and industrial activity. To alleviate the traffic problem, New York City developed plans for an elevated highway.

Over time, the elevated highway faced serious deterioration due to poor maintenance and the demands of increased traffic. It was deemed inadequate to handle the city's growing automobile use.

In December 1973, a section of the West Side Elevated Highway collapsed under the weight of a truck near Gansevoort Street.

In response to the collapse and aging infrastructure, the Westway project was proposed in the 1970s.

After years of legal battles and public debate, the project was abandoned in 1985.

The highway was reconstructed as part of the Route 9A Reconstruction Project in the 1990s.

The new Route 9A/West Side Highway is an eight-lane urban boulevard that stretches from Battery Park to 57th Street. It includes modern features like traffic lights, landscaped medians, dedicated bike and pedestrian paths, and improved waterfront access.

After the September 11 attacks, the area around the highway near the World Trade Center was heavily damaged. Reconstruction efforts in this area took several years but were completed as part of the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan.