NEW YORK, N.Y. – The most congested pedestrian area by the World Trade Center has been expanded.

World Trade Center construction chief Steven Plate on Monday cut the yellow tape that stretched the public space on Vesey Street in lower Manhattan to more than 10,000 square feet. The walkway flanks the north end of the 16-acre site along 1 World Trade Center, the nation’s tallest building.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the site. Spokeswoman Erica Dumas (doo-MAH’) says up to 1,600 people an hour use the block between Church and West streets.

The area is now 28 feet wide from the 18 feet that at rush hours produced a squeezed human demolition derby.

Also Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH’-moh) said $1.6 billion in funding has been approved to ensure completion of 3 World Trade Center.