A decade ago, the East Side Access project brought ugly wrap-around fencing to the worst location: Straight across from the subway station where most people enter Roosevelt Island. Its in-your-face presence will be coming down. It should be soon.
by David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
East Side Access Project: “We have to finish this year.”

On a sunny day, the entry gate by the West Promenade was open. A friendly trio of East Side Access construction workers smiled when I asked if the fencing would ever come down.
“No, we have to finish this year,” one joked.
The East Side Access debacle project, now four times more costly than its original budget, has dragged on for fifteen years after getting federal funding. It was always a political boondoggle that will serve few passengers, all from Long Island. But it served its purpose in earning union votes.
In short, everything about it has been just as ugly as the fence. But time is finally running out. Even government work is not eternal.
Behind the Fence

“I used to run straight through there,” I told them, pointing at the grates.
In the early 2000s, before the fence went up, the subway airshaft, installed with the station, had been just that. It vented the four tunnels under the East River between Roosevelt Island and the rest of Manhattan.
Most Roosevelt Islanders, because the community has become so transient, have never seen this area without the ugly fencing. Now, the cleared-out air shaft and its new artwork will transform the space.
Imagine the next cherry blossom season without the eyesore. You never know, RIOC might even be inspired enough to update the out-of-date wayfinding signs.
Too much?
The Roosevelt Island Daily News is committed to covering its community without bias or shrinking from thorny issues. We need your support in our mission. Reading is always free but our expenses are not. Please chip in.
more from the roosevelt island daily news
- What Black History Means to the 19th StaffBlack History Month has been reserved to acknowledge and commemorate the achievements of our ancestors, their great contributions and what they’ve done for the world. Growing up we learn about the likes of Frederick Douglass,
- A Budding RIOC Bromance Softens the Sugary NarcissismThe RIOC bromance between President/CEO Seldom Seen Shelton J. Haynes and Akeem Jamal first blossomed as Haynes’s longtime friend, Altheria Jackson, was shown the door. Haynes was so taken with Jamal, he hired him at
- New York City’s Energy Future on Roosevelt Island’s HorizonThe Ravenswood Generating Station, just across the river from Roosevelt Island, becomes a key to New York City’s energy future with a transition to offshore wind power. The facility, long known as a significant source
- Why cats are the best-evolved animals in the modern worldThere’s no denying that cats are some of the most fascinating creatures on the planet, but are they also the best-evolved? And while there are many reasons why they’re so special, one thing, in particular,
- Five Mindfulness Quotes Bringing Light and Insight for Life“Mindfulness” is a word that gets tossed around a lot these days. But what does it really mean? Is it just another fad or buzzword? Actually, mindfulness is an ancient practice with proven benefits for
[…] Is the Ugly Over? The East Side Access Mess on Roosevelt Island May End with a Splash […]
[…] See Also: Is the East Side Access Ugly Finally Over […]