New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
LOOKING ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF
THE ViADUCT.
NINETY -SIXTH-ST. VIADUCT
WORK ON THIS RIVERSIDE DRIVE I'M
PROVEMENT NEARLY COMPLETED

The work on the Riverside Drive viaduct at
Ninety-s:xth-st. has reached state whlch al
5ords fair idea of its merits as piece OF
sndscape architecture. This much discussed
,rrnrovernent costly, perhaps, beyond it's use
fulness, adds greatly to the attractiVeness Oh
Riverside Park. The work is far more elaborate
than those residing in the vicinity had any idea
II would be when it was begun. The viaduct
itself is only small part of the granite masonry
which has been erected within the space OF
block The high retaining walls along the SUB
way, with their picturesque buttresses ana the
numerous terraces of stone steps leading from
the road down to the river, or rather TO the
railroad tracks, which pretty effectuay cut the
public off from the river, probably have cost the
city more than the viaduct itself
Then there is a park tool storage house OF
granite en- the south side of Ninety -sixth-st. adj
joining the railroad and rest house OF similar
exterior design and construction directly oppo-
site. These buildings have been finished and
the ground about them is being graded and
sodded When the asphalt walks, now partly
laid are completed, they will be in few
weeks and the semi-circuiar shelters at each
end of thu viaduct next the drive are finished,
there can be question that the portion OF
the park thus embellished will be of the
beauty spots of the city.
At present however. there is a sort OF tralllc
through the subway that is far from suited to
the surroundings. The debris from the blast
ing and digging in the rapid transit tunnel
under the Boulevard is being carted TO the
river front through Ninety-sixth-st and dumped
on scovs rnoored there. steady procession
Of teams is constantly passing under the viaduct
I'm both directions, and the cloud OF dust they
raise from the uneven road and that resulting
from the dumping operations keep the orha-
mental stonework OF the viaduct thickly coated
with reddish brown dust not attractive 10 tiie
eve. Instead of washing off the dust effectually,
an ordinary shower simply streaks the Walls
with mud and they will probably bear the
stains thus created for years Every pree%e
that Greens I'D the steep bluff is laden with
dust and it is whirled across the drive ana
forced into every nook and Granny of the houses
In the neighborhood, to the great discomfort OF
the occupants.
The aspect Of the Improvement Is most pleas
ing from the park walks and the river. Ex-
cept the arch of the viaduct, the abutments
and raIings of which rise above it, and the
Shelters which to mark the limits of the
improved area little can be seen from the lower
floors of the buildings that front on the drive.
one must go down the hill and look up to ap-
preciate fully what has been achieved by the
expenditure of hundreds of thousands of dollars
of the city's money. To this extent at least
the structure is not merely local in character.
Everybody has a right to go where It's at
fractions can best be seen. The chief advantage
from the work is the reduction in the steepness
of the grade of Riverside Drive and the
venience caused by having the local traffic cross
the drive below the surface.