the first official proposal for an elevated highway along manhattan's west side was made by police commissioner richard edward enright on january 12, 1924, in a letter to the new york city board of estimate. the highway was to be 100 feet (30 m) wide, running north from the battery to 72nd street at riverside drive, west end avenue, or amsterdam avenue. according to enright, "during business hours west street [was] the most congested thoroughfare in the city. vast quantities of the city's foodstuffs [were] handled in the territory adjacent to west street." he cited traffic congestion as an extra cost of doing business and a blockage for fire engines.