New World Trade Center design may be to blame for falling ice that disrupts morning commute The building’s sloping corners functioned like a ski jump for falling ice. The Port Authority officials shut the PATH station over safety concerns, causing a massi

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New World Trade Center design may be to blame for falling ice that disrupts morning commute
The building’s sloping corners functioned like a ski jump for falling ice. The Port Authority officials shut the PATH station over safety concerns, causing a massive rush hour log jam.

By Matt Chaban AND Barry Paddock / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Friday, February 7, 2014, 12:00 PM

Falling ice from One World Trade Center led to the closure of nearby streets, the PATH station and a memorial pool Friday morning.

Port Authority workers closed the main entrance to the World Trade Center station about 8:45 a.m. after ice began plummeting more than 1000 feet off the nearly-completed building, officials said. Service to Newark and Hoboken was suspended.
The PATH train was closed due to ice falling off 1 WTC.

The tower's distinctive design made matters worse, witnesses said. The building’s sloping corners functioned like a ski jump for falling ice.

Commuters were redirected to the Brookfield Place entrance.

"The ice just comes down the side and shoots off," said one PATH worker, who declined to give his name.

Disembarking PATH passengers were diverted to the World Financial Center, now known as Brookfield Place, where they were confronted by a maze of plywood because the entire ground floor of the four building development is being renovated for new stores and lobbies.

One building executive dismissed the problems as just a fact of life in New York.

"The ice just comes down the side and shoots off," said one PATH worker.

"When you have tall glass buildings and icy conditions, that ice is going to start falling," the executive said. "It happens all over town."

The station reopened just before 9:30 a.m., but at 11 a.m. the north pool of the World Trade Center memorial was closed due to hazardous conditions, officials said.

Nobody was hurt by the falling ice.