Graffiti no more: Washington Heights tunnel painting sparks public outcry

One of New York City’s most iconic tunnels (for pedestrians) has become less recognizable after an unexpected painting stripped its walls of carefully curated artwork and added the graffiti that has become synonymous with the highway.

The 191st Street pedestrian tunnel has become the latest lightning rod for controversy after the city’s Department of Transportation cleaned the walls over the weekend, leaving a nearly 1,000-foot walkway bare.

An unofficial Washington Heights landmark, the tunnel connects St. Nicholas Avenue to Broadway for access to the No. 1 train. Not only has it attracted attention for its painted walls, but it has also reported safety and cleanliness concerns from community members.

Despite these misgivings, one city council member couldn’t believe the decision to clean up its walls, removing what she calls “the tunnel’s soul”, apparently without community involvement.

“The continued lack of transparency from the city government has long eroded the trust of our community,” Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa, who represents the area, said in a statement.

A DOT spokesperson confirmed the agency’s work on the cleanup, saying “the cleanup is the first step towards creating a new art project for the tunnel.”

“We look forward to working closely with the community and local elected officials on a project that celebrates the culture and diversity that makes New York so special,” Acting Press Secretary Vincent Barone said.

The change comes almost eight years after city officials commissioned artists to fill in the walls of the tunnel with frescoes. Since then, much of the original artwork has been painted over.