DOWNTOWN BUFFALO
Washington St. block stays closed
Downtown motorists are feeling the effects of tunnel trauma.
The condition of underground vaults and a connecting tunnel spurred city officials to close Washington Street between East Eagle and Clinton streets Tuesday afternoon.
Steven Stepniak, the city’s public works commissioner, said the one-block stretch will remain closed today to pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and possibly a bit longer.
Unknown to many people, numerous tunnels snake beneath the streets and sidewalks of downtown Buffalo, including parts of the central business and Theater districts. In an earlier era, this invisible maze helped crews move goods from one building to another without disrupting downtown traffic.
Inspectors recently found deteriorating conditions at an underground vault near the Washington Street tunnel that links the former AM&A’s store with a nearby warehouse. The discovery probably will prompt city officials to take a closer look at other underground tunnels, Stepniak said.
“We’re thinking about what else might be down there,” he said.
Structural engineers inspected the underground vaults Wednesday, and city officials met with a representative of Long Islandbased New Horizons Acquisitions, the building’s owner, who Stepniak said appears to be “very serious” about resolving the vault problem. But he emphasized that if the problem is not remedied quickly, the city will make repairs and bill the owner.
“We’re not going to tolerate any long, drawn-out affair,” said Stepniak, noting that motorists and pedestrians face inconveniences as a result of the street closing. Until Washington reopens, drivers can use Michigan Avenue or Ellicott Street as alternative routes, while pedestrians also can use Main Street.
The owner of the AM&As’ complex was recently slapped with fines for numerous building code violations. Stepniak said neglect appears to have compromised the integrity of the vault beneath the properties. “If you don’t properly maintain these vaults, there could be problems,” he said.
