call it a new yorker's worst nightmare drivers going through the Queen's Midtown Tunnel this afternoon saw water pouring in from the tunnel ceilings and walls the MTA subsequently shut the tunnel down in both directions and say there are no known injuries or damages to any Vehicles the city's Economic Development Corporation says that a subcontractor they hired was doing preliminary work on the East River Esplanade when they accidentally drilled a hole two and a half in wide in the tunnel's outer casing and through its cast iron lining causing water from the East River to leak in through the tunnel's ventilation ducts I asked the MTA how that mistake was even able to happen as I understand it they drilled 100 ft from the surface of the water uh about 50 ft through water and then another 53 50 ft through soil then to the tunnel the MTA says they have temporarily blocked that hole and they are hoping to reopen all the lanes soon but that could take hours or even days