The Financial District Coastal Improvement Program (FDCIP) aims to design a comprehensive waterfront improvement strategy that addresses multiple urban challenges: mitigating flood risks, reducing pollution in New York City's waterways, creating a vibrant public waterfront, and boosting real estate value from Battery Park to Corlears Hook.
Central to the proposal is the relocation of the southernmost section of the elevated FDR Drive into an underground tunnel. This tunnel serves dual purposes as both an expressway and a catch basin for stormwater overflow, effectively minimizing traffic congestion and reducing street-level pollution. It also improves traffic flow by moving junctions below grade, thereby opening up space for new development opportunities and enhancing the accessibility and vibrancy of the waterfront. The tunnel is designed to operate in three modes: typical day-to-day traffic, heavy rain events, and storm surges, ensuring resilience in the face of climate challenges.
In addition, the FDCIP introduces an innovative, automated movable seawall situated south of the Brooklyn Bridge. As sea levels rise, water from the river will fill a reaction chamber, triggering a hydraulic piston system that elevates the promenade platform into a vertical wall. This seawall will blockstorm surge waves from reaching adjacent areas, directing excess water into the tunnel and back toward the river.
The northern section of the site leverages both the tunnel and an extended coastal platform to serve as flood mitigation solutions. In parallel, the design provides new land for vital open spaces, benefiting the growing populations of the Two Bridges and Lower East Side neighborhoods. The FDCIP creates a forward-thinking infrastructure that fosters environmental sustainability, public access, and urban development, positioning the area for continued growth and resilience in the face of future climate challenges.
