Monday, December 27, 2010

FDNY Officials Stop Bob Diamonds' Atlantic Ave Tunnel Tours

1st NW Quadrant: The Approval Matrix

BY MIKE MCLAUGHLIN DAILY NEWS WRITER

Fire department officials halted a popular tour of an abandoned tunnel under Atlantic Ave. yesterday after declaring it a safety hazard.

Transit buff Bob Diamond started tours of the former Long Island Rail Road tunnel in 1982, but FDNY officials said he can't continue because there's only one entrance - via ladder through a manhole near Court St.

"This is not a safe place for the public to be allowed to go," said FDNY spokesman Frank Dwyer. "It's dangerous down there. There's no safe way into and out of the tunnel."

Dwyer said the narrow entrance and ladder would pose a challenge for emergency responders to rescue visitors in the event of an accident.

He also raised concerns about air quality and the use of generators on the street to power the tunnel's lighting.

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