Progress continues through the winter

The three new towers are not the only construction sites making good progress in the World Trade Center (WTC) east bathtub. The WTC Trans­portation Hub, designed by renowned architect San­tiago Calatrava, also has reached several milestones this winter, with more than 2,800 tons of permanent steel now erected in the station.

The Port Authority reports that construction of the iconic structure’s signature sweeping arches had made major progress -- on their way to forming the Hub’s mezzanine level. Erection of the north, south, and center span arches also has been completed. Other recent progress in­cludes installation of the Hub’s northwest “supercolumn,” which is a key pillar for providing the structure’s distinctive open­ness.

Meanwhile, construction of the East Box Girder contin­ues and welding is commencing. The mas­sive steel girder is essentially an un­derground bridge to permanently support the 1 train subway box in place while allowing commuters to travel below it. It will link the main Transit Hall area with the east-west connector -- serving as part of the future pedestrian concourse that will stretch as far west as the World Financial Center, and as far east as the Fulton Street Transit Center’s William Street entrances.

The WTC Transportation Hub will restore and enhance the PATH station that existed prior to September 11, 2001. It has been designed to accommodate 250,000 pedestrians per day. The existing tem­porary PATH station, with access at Vesey Street and West Broadway, accommodates approximately 50,000 pedestrians per day.

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