Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Hidden Parts of Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Covered in Red Tape
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 21, 2010
Modified Aug 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 7
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 21, 2010
Modified Aug 21, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Will we ever know what's really hidden in the old rail road tunnel beneath Atlantic Avenue? Bob Diamond discovered the tunnel in 1981, and has been giving tours of it—but now he wants National Geographic to help him unveil more of the tunnel in front of television cameras. Problem is, he needs the city's help to do it.
According to the Brooklyn Paper, the archeological dig (which has been discussed for over a year) could be a bust. But if it's not, it could uncover an old steam locomotive, John Wilkes Booth’s diary (that will obviously "reveal who hired him to shoot Abraham Lincoln"), or even vampires! (Crossing our fingers for Eric Northman.) So why hasn't the wall been busted down yet? Diamond needs the city's approval first, specifically from the Department of Transportation.
Diamond told the paper, “We need a knight in shining armor. We need a city official to be the champion of digging up the steam locomotive, because there is going to be a lot of red tape.” If he finds a way through the red tape, he'll then need to find the best route to the area he's trying to reach. He says there are two options, digging in from the street, or knocking it down inside—the former being the easiest. And that's the hold up, because it would mean diverting traffic from that area of Atlantic Avenue for what Diamond predicts will be two weekends. But c'mon motorists, a little detour is worth finding out who hired John Wilkes Booth to shoot our 16th president, no?
Tagged
atlantic avenue tunnel
bob diamond
dot
national geographic
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .