With the lower Manhattan skyline as a back drop, an MTA F Train can be seen climbing the curved grade of the Culver Viaduct on its approach to the Smith and 9th St. Station. This massive concrete and steel structure was built for the original IND Subway System in 1938 to span the Gowanus Canal and the gritty industrial enterprises it supports. With a clearance of 90 feet above the canal, the viaduct was designed to allow for the passage of the type of ships that no longer ply its superfund-sited waters. The Culver Viaduct carries two stations across its span including this stop, the highest point in the MTA system. This beautiful photo shows the station before its recent renovation and before the new WTC was part of the skyline.
