Editing Lincoln Tunnel (section)

=== Later years ===
[[File:MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, SHOWING ENTRANCE TO THE LINCOLN TUNNEL UNDER THE HUDSON RIVER - NARA - 548359.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the Manhattan approaches in 1973]]

As traffic increased through the tubes, the Port Authority tried various methods to mitigate tunnel congestion. In February 1957, it started training "spotters" to look at traffic on the Manhattan side's tunnel approaches from the 35th floor of [[330 West 42nd Street]], located nearby.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1957/02/26/archives/birdseye-view-of-tunnel-approaches-helps-policemen-expedite-traffic.html |title=Bird's-Eye View of Tunnel Approaches Helps Policemen Expedite Traffic Flow |last=Hausner |first=Edward |date=February 26, 1957 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110214/https://www.nytimes.com/1957/02/26/archives/birdseye-view-of-tunnel-approaches-helps-policemen-expedite-traffic.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The Port Authority started using two-way radios in mid-1958.<ref>{{cite web |title=Police Use Radios to Speed Lincoln Tunnel Traffic |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=August 30, 1958 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1958/08/30/archives/police-use-radios-to-speed-lincoln-tunnel-traffic.html |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409111852/https://www.nytimes.com/1958/08/30/archives/police-use-radios-to-speed-lincoln-tunnel-traffic.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1966–1967, the Port Authority installed [[closed-circuit television]] systems to monitor and control the spacing of traffic in the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.<ref>{{cite web |last=King |first=Seth S. |title=Computers to Aid Tunnel Traffic |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=December 15, 1967 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/15/archives/computers-to-aid-tunnel-traffic-tv-also-to-help-space-cars-in.html |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409110200/https://www.nytimes.com/1967/12/15/archives/computers-to-aid-tunnel-traffic-tv-also-to-help-space-cars-in.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252021%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%25201966%2FBuffalo%2520NY%2520Courier%2520Express%25201966%2520-%25202549.pdf |title=Seeing Eye for Traffic |date=February 27, 1966 |work=Buffalo Courier Express |access-date=April 16, 2018 |pages=10 |via=Old Fulton New York Postcards |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124024050/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspapers%2021/Buffalo%20NY%20Courier%20Express/Buffalo%20NY%20Courier%20Express%201966/Buffalo%20NY%20Courier%20Express%201966%20-%202549.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Port Authority officers observed Lincoln Tunnel traffic from a control center on the New Jersey side. Patrolmen were stationed within each tube to watch out for stalled vehicles, and a computerized system also monitored traffic flows in each tube.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/29/archives/rush-hour-at-the-lincoln-tunnel-a-challenge-to-traffic-controllers.html |title=Rush Hour at the Lincoln Tunnel a Challenge to Traffic Controllers |date=May 29, 1973 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410072329/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/29/archives/rush-hour-at-the-lincoln-tunnel-a-challenge-to-traffic-controllers.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Originally, the northern and center tubes were paved using bricks, while the southern tube contained an asphalt surface. The brick road surfaces began to deteriorate over time, and in 1967–1968, the northern and center tubes were paved over with asphalt. By 1971, Lincoln Tunnel was carrying 32 million vehicles per year.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/10/archives/rough-tunnel-trip-is-getting-smoother.html |title=Rough Tunnel Trip Is Getting Smoother |last=Bailinson |first=Frank |date=September 10, 1972 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2018 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410074350/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/09/10/archives/rough-tunnel-trip-is-getting-smoother.html |url-status=live }}</ref> From the Lincoln Tunnel's opening until 1970, the Port Authority charged the same flat-rate toll of 50 cents in each direction. Westbound tolls were removed in 1970, and the tolls for eastbound drivers were doubled to offset the loss of the westbound tolls.<ref name="Moran 1970"/>

In December 1970, the Port Authority tested out an exclusive bus lane for one year, and it became so popular that the bus lane was later made permanent.<ref name="Prial 1971">{{cite web |last=Prial |first=Frank J. |title=Special Bus Lane to Tunnel to Be Kept |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=December 17, 1971 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/17/archives/special-bus-lane-to-tunnel-to-be-kept.html |access-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-date=April 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409115009/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/12/17/archives/special-bus-lane-to-tunnel-to-be-kept.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1971, the elephants of the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]] walked through the Lincoln Tunnel. The animals were normally taken via railroad, but a labor strike had suspended all rail service to [[Madison Square Garden]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252011%2FGloversville%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Herald%2FGloversville%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Herald%25201971%2520Grayscale%2FGloversville%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Herald%25201971%2520Grayscale%2520-%25202586.pdf |title=19 Elephants Are Herded Through Lincoln Tunnel |date=May 18, 1971 |work=Gloversville Leader Herald |access-date=April 16, 2018 |pages=1 |via=Old Fulton New York Postcards |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124023951/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2011/Gloversville%20NY%20Leader%20Herald/Gloversville%20NY%20Leader%20Herald%201971%20Grayscale/Gloversville%20NY%20Leader%20Herald%201971%20Grayscale%20-%202586.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Circus Caravan Through Lincoln Tunnel Causes Elephantine Traffic Jam |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=May 18, 1971 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/18/archives/circus-caravan-through-lincoln-tunnel-causes-elephantine-traffic.html |access-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503123316/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/18/archives/circus-caravan-through-lincoln-tunnel-causes-elephantine-traffic.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The elephants started walking through the Queens–Midtown Tunnel instead of the Lincoln Tunnel starting in 1981,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252024%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Amsterdam%2520News%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Amsterdam%2520News%25201981%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Amsterdam%2520News%25201981%252000556_1.pdf |title=Circus Predawn March |date=March 28, 1981 |work=N.Y. Amsterdam News |access-date=April 21, 2018 |pages=68 |via=Old Fulton New York Postcards |archive-date=January 24, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124024615/https://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2024/New%20York%20NY%20Amsterdam%20News/New%20York%20NY%20Amsterdam%20News%201981/New%20York%20NY%20Amsterdam%20News%201981%2000556_1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the elephant walk ceased altogether when the elephants were retired in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey To End Elephant Acts This May |website=CBS New York |location=New York |publisher=[[WCBS-TV]] |date=January 11, 2016 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/11/ringling-brothers-circus-elephants/ |access-date=April 18, 2018 |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419053207/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/01/11/ringling-brothers-circus-elephants/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ringling Bros. Elephants Are Taking Early Retirement to Florida |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=January 12, 2016 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/ringling-circus-elephants-take-early-retirement-to-florida.html |access-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-date=April 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419024003/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/ringling-circus-elephants-take-early-retirement-to-florida.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Port Authority started repaving the Lincoln Tunnel's center tube in the early 1980s, in preparation for a renovation of the Holland Tunnel that was slated to start in 1984. Due to the renovation project, the Holland Tunnel's tubes would be closed one at a time for two and a half years, and traffic would be diverted to the Lincoln Tunnel. After the Holland Tunnel renovation was done, the Lincoln Tunnel's north and south tubes would be repaved. Each repaving was set to cost $10 million.<ref>{{cite web |title=Years of Delays Seen for Motorists at Lincoln and Holland Tunnels |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=October 24, 1983 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/24/nyregion/years-of-delays-seen-for-motorists-at-lincoln-and-holland-tunnels.html |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043945/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/10/24/nyregion/years-of-delays-seen-for-motorists-at-lincoln-and-holland-tunnels.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The repair work on the Lincoln Tunnel's center tube cost $2 million more than projected, and took five times as long as initially estimated, because repaving only occurred at night.<ref>{{cite web |last=Daley |first=Suzanne |title=Price of Road Repairs: Swelling Traffic Jams |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=March 19, 1984 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/19/nyregion/price-of-road-repairs-swelling-traffic-jams.html |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043852/https://www.nytimes.com/1984/03/19/nyregion/price-of-road-repairs-swelling-traffic-jams.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1989, during the rehabilitation and repaving of the northern tube, a computerized traffic-control center was built in the administration building on the New Jersey side, which allowed a tunnel controller inside the building to remotely control the flow of traffic to, from, and through Lincoln Tunnel. The computerized system was connected to 73 cameras that captured video of the entirety of the three tubes.<ref name="Romano 1990">{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Jay |title=Lincoln Tunnel Repaving Poses Test for 'Fragile' Traffic System |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=February 4, 1990 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/04/nyregion/lincoln-tunnel-repaving-poses-test-for-fragile-traffic-system.html |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043558/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/04/nyregion/lincoln-tunnel-repaving-poses-test-for-fragile-traffic-system.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cellphone service was added to the tubes in 1995 as part of a $1.2 million project funded by the telecommunications company [[Cellular One]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lincoln Tunnel Going Cellular |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=October 24, 1994 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/24/nyregion/lincoln-tunnel-going-cellular.html |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919114659/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/24/nyregion/lincoln-tunnel-going-cellular.html |url-status=live}}</ref> A major overhaul of the center tube started in 1996 at a cost of $53 million. This construction included replacing tiles, wire ducts, curbs, doors, and other infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pristin |first=Terry |title=Repairs Start on Tunnel Tube |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=March 26, 1996 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/26/nyregion/new-jersey-daily-briefing-repairs-start-on-tunnel-tube.html |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414093218/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/03/26/nyregion/new-jersey-daily-briefing-repairs-start-on-tunnel-tube.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The same year, the Port Authority board also voted to renovate the toll plaza for $42 million.<ref name="Pristin 1996">{{cite web |last=Pristin |first=Terry |title=Facelift for Tunnel Plaza |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=July 12, 1996 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/12/nyregion/new-jersey-daily-briefing-facelift-for-tunnel-plaza.html |access-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414172131/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/12/nyregion/new-jersey-daily-briefing-facelift-for-tunnel-plaza.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

After the [[September 11 attacks]] in 2001, drivers with no passengers were temporarily banned from going through the Lincoln Tunnel during weekday mornings, due to traffic gridlock that resulted from the [[collapse of the World Trade Center]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Feuer |first=Alan |title=More Crowded Cars Bring Less Crowded Crossings |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=September 28, 2001 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/28/nyregion/more-crowded-cars-bring-less-crowded-crossings.html |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416013206/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/28/nyregion/more-crowded-cars-bring-less-crowded-crossings.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This ban was partially repealed in April 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Randy |title=Lone Drivers? Some Can Come Into Manhattan |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=April 19, 2002 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/19/nyregion/lone-drivers-some-can-come-into-manhattan.html |access-date=April 15, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416012918/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/19/nyregion/lone-drivers-some-can-come-into-manhattan.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The tunnels portals were revamped in 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/lincoln/#:~:text=The%20Port%20Authority%20completed%20two,the%20Port%20Authority%20Bus%20Terminal | title=Lincoln Tunnel (NY 495-NJ 495) }}</ref> In 2014, the lighting in the tunnels were replaced by new energy efficient LED diodes.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2014_press_releases/port_authority_installsnewenergyefficientledlightingthroughoutth.html | title=Port Authority Installs New Energy Efficient Led Lighting Throughout the Lincoln Tunnel }}</ref>