“The elevators at the Chambers Street pedestrian bridge have been out of order for months now. What’s the story? Thanks.” —J.

J. actually asked this back in January, and the fact that we only now have an answer isn’t for lack of effort. I first tried the Battery Park City Authority, but they said that because the damage (from Sandy) is greater than general maintenance/repair—and in the capital repair category—it falls under the city’s jurisdiction. So I tried the Department of Transportation, but I discovered that the elevators, meant to serve Stuyvesant High School, are actually the Department of Education‘s problem.

In late February, the DOE emailed this in response to my question: “The DOE’s Facilities Division has bid out repairs to the elevator that services the pedestrian bridge. The work will include replacing cables, tap, wiring, the above ground piping and victaulic fittings as well as the hydraulic cylinders. We should have a timeline shortly.”

“Shortly” can mean anything, so I asked—over and over, in two-week intervals, then weekly—if there was any news. (I may have burned a bridge. Pun intended!) Yesterday, this came through:

The work is ongoing and new elevator parts are being ordered. It is anticipated to take a few more weeks. The work being done includes:
—Replacing Traveling cables
—Replacing Selector Tape
—Replacing Damaged Hoistway wiring
—Replacing Above Ground Piping and Victaulic Fittings
—Replacing Hydraulic Cylinders
—Removing and Replacing all Hydraulic Fluid

“A few more weeks” is going to have to be good enough for now, although that’s just to get the parts. The actual repair work still needs to be done….

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

Previous Nosy Neighbor posts:
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• When will Pier 25 be fully restored?
• What’s the story with the Batmobile?
• Is 5 Franklin Place stalled again?
• What’s going on with 88 Thomas?
• Is another Equinox opening in IPN?
• Is this the new dog run?
• Any update on the Chambers construction?
• Who’s responsible for the snowflake lights?
• Is the scaffolding on 110 Hudson ever coming down?
• Are the Hudson and Chambers reconstructions delayed?
• What’s going on at 165 Church?
• Is 93 Reade adding a floor?
• Why is Pier 25 ripped up?
• Is 28 N. Moore going residential?
• Why does cobblestoning require sprinklers?
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• What happens to old cobblestones?
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• What is this P.C. Richard & Son Theater I keep hearing about?
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• How come every every film and TV shoot seems to have a trailer with doors marked “Lucy” and “Desi”?