The 191st Street Tunnel in Washington Heights has a colorful new look, courtesy of six artists mostly from the neighborhood.
Bright new murals now cover the dreary underground passage after the Department of Transportation kicked off a much-needed clean-up earlier this year.
Its entrance now features a woman with her arms open by artist Denise Coke, followed by a series of brightly-painted sections with motifs including pink roses by Rasheeda Johnson, geometric hearts by Daniel Bonilla, footprints Vicky Azcoitia and banana plants Carla Torres.
The beautification of the tunnel, which connects Broadway and the 191st St station on the 1 line, has been a long time coming.
In recent years layers of graffiti had obscured the city's previous attempt at a clean-up.
Meanwhile complaints of needles discarded by drug users got the attention of local officials.
Finally this spring, the DOT invited a new group of artists to submit proposals for the clean-up.
The city agency first revealed the new murals last week.
