Construction
Update - Work Underway |
There are several contracts involving major construction currently underway in both Manhattan and Queens. |
Manhattan Contracts |
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Harold Structures IIA
– Underway
The Perini Corporation has been awarded this contract which will clear more of LIRR's Harold Interlocking and Amtrak's F Interlocking. It will also include the construction of new retaining walls to create more usable space for the railroads. This contract will begin the widening of the track structure. This will also add to LIRR's operating flexibility. |
(Click here for progress photos.)
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Vertical Circulations Elements
– Underway
This contract is to fabricate, deliver, install, service and maintain 22 elevators and 47 escalators within Grand Central Terminal for the East Side Access Project. The work will be coordinated with the design for the structural, architectural, mechanical and electrical elements in the new concourse and the caverns for the future LIRR Terminal. |
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Manhattan Approach Tunnels
– Underway
Tunnels are presently being constructed from the existing 63rd Street Tunnel at Second Avenue to the south end of the GCT tail tracks. The work also includes excavation for cross passages between the tunnels and a central instrument room. |
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Manhattan Structures I - 37th Street and Park Avenue Construction
– Underway
This work involves excavation of the caverns that will eventually function as the new LIRR platforms and mezzanine below Grand Central Terminal. Construction also includes excavation and lining of the new escalator-ways and shafts in Madison Yard. Additional excavation and lining of cross passages along the alignment will also be completed. |
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Grand Central Terminal (GCT) Madison Yard Site Preparation
Underway
The Gramercy Group Inc of Westbury, NY has been awarded this contract which prepares the Grand Central Terminal's Madison Yard for its new function as LIRR's concourse. Under this contract, the Madison Yard will be completely gutted and reconfigured in preparation for a future contract that will complete the transformation of the yard to its new role as LIRR's concourse. |
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245 Park Ave. Entrance and 44th St Ventilation Structure -
Underway
Entrance to Yonkers Contracting Company Inc. was announced in September 2009. This contract has two major construction elements. The first is to construct a new entrance located at 245 Park Avenue. The second element will construct new ventilation structure after demolition of the existing building at 47 East 44th Street. |
(Click here for progress photos.)
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50th Street Ventilation Facility
Underway
This contract was awarded to CCA Civic-Halmar International. A new ventilation facility will be built that will support train operations and passenger spaces that will be located at the new LIRR terminal at Grand Central Terminal. Five buildings will be demolished followed by excavation for the ventilation building and shafts and a new reinforced concrete loading dock will be built. Most of the construction will occur underground. A new landscaped public plaza with seating and water fall feature will also be created. |
(Click here for progress photos.) |
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Queens Contracts |
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Plaza Substation and Queens Structures
– Underway
This contract includes the rehabilitation and retrofit of five existing substation/ventilation facilities along the existing 63rd Street Tunnel, Construction of the Plaza Interlocking Facility in Queens and construction of several above-grade structures in the Amtrak/LIRR Harold Interlocking in Queens. |
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Northern Boulevard Crossing
– Underway
This project shall construct a new tunnel structure under Northern Boulevard. The scope of work includes underpinning the elevated structure above Northern Boulevard. ESA will then excavate and construct a new concrete tunnel connecting the Queens open-cut area to the existing bellmouth north of Northern Boulevard |
(Click here for progress photos.)
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Queens Bored Tunnels & Structures
– Underway
Awarded in September 2009 to Granite-Traylor-Frontier, this is the East Side Access Project's second big tunneling project and will consist of four short tunnels (10,500 feet total length), reception pits for three tunnels and three shafts for emergency access and ventilation. Unlike Manhattan, the Queens tunnels will be almost entirely excavated in soils. The tunnels are comparatively shallow and are located beneath Amtrak's Sunnyside Yard and Long Island Rail Road's Harold Interlocking. They will connect the 63rd Street tunnel, using the open-cut structure created by the Queens Open-Cut Excavation contract, to the Mainline and Port Washington Branch LIRR tracks. As a result of the amount of ground cover, the ground type and the sensitivity of the overlying structures, a pair of specialized tunnel boring machines called Slurry TBMs will be used to excavate the tunnels. |
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Harold Structures I
– Underway
This contract will involve the first phase of construction to reconfigure the existing Harold Interlocking and lead tracks to Amtrak's Sunnyside Yard. The contract includes the construction of retaining walls, bridges, a substation, and a vehicular access bridge along with all the associated foundations and utilities, will aid in increasing the capacity of Harold Interlocking, making room for the new ESA tracks. |
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Construction Update — Upcoming 2010/2011 Awards
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Manhattan Contracts |
55th Street Ventilation Facility
– Award Target: November 2011
This contract will construct a new underground ventilation facility. The first phase will require demolition of a portion of 55th Street and its sidewalk to relocate utilities and excavate in order to construct the street level air plenum, and sidewalk gratings. The second phase of this contract will be mining of the caverns which will require the construction of lining and interior concrete structures for the tunnel ventilation fan chamber, system substation, emergency egress corridor and employee stairs.
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Manhattan Structures 2 and Facilities Fit-Out
– Award Target March 2011
This contract interfaces with other existing East Side Access contracts to install associated systems in the new caverns created within Grand Central Terminal and in the tail tracks south of the new station. Construction within the caverns and tail tracks include installing power systems, fire protection we well as constructing architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical systems.
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GCT Concourse and Facilities Fit- Out Early Work
– Award Target February 2011
This is a two phase contract that will interface with other East Side Access contracts currently underway and will encompass the following major elements: civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and architectural to allow for the installation of permanent power and communication abilities in a portion of the new Long Island Rail Road concourse located on the lower level of Grand Central Terminal
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Queens Contracts |
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Harold Structures - Part 3
Award Target: February 2012
This contract will interface with existing East Side Access contracts to enable Amtrak trains entering Harold Interlocking from the Hell Gate Line to be rerouted to Penn Station without conflict and will reduce potential service delays. This work will require the construction of a westbound bypass structure, Track D approach structure, demolition and construction of catenary and signal power installation, demolition and reconstruction of portions of existing bridge structure as well as constructing an intermediate retaining wall east of 48th Street.
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Construction
Update - Work Completed
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the start of East Side Access construction in 2001, a number of different
contracts have been successfully completed, including: |
Manhattan/Bronx
Contracts |
GCT Protection Works
This work involved the preparation of former Madison Yard area for construction and blasting. The work included inspection of facilities, removal and repair of defective concrete, necessary repairs to concrete slabs, columns and beams and installation of protective mesh. |
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Highbridge
Yard
Construction of this new storage and maintenance facility in the Bronx was completed in December 2003. Providing six tracks for train storage and a maintenance facility for Metro-North trains previously stored in Grand Central Terminal (GCT), the new yard makes room for the new concourse at GCT's lower level.
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Environmental
Remediation
Hazardous material abatement within the GCT's East Yard on the lower level was completed in September 2003 and the removal of asbestos-containing materials from the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel was completed in January 2004, in preparation for contracts that will lay new track work.
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Manhattan
Approach Tunnel
Excavation by Roadheader
This contract, completed in August 2004, included removal of the existing bulkhead and installation of tunnel lighting and other utilities in the 63rd Street Tunnel. A limited amount of rock excavation using roadheader technology was also performed.
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Queens Contracts |
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Tunnel A Completion
On December 22, 2011, a TBM broke through Tunnel "A" in Long Island City, Queens. Tunnel "A" will eventually carry LIRR trains west towards Manhattan to Grand Central Terminal. |
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Queens Open-Cut Excavation
The completed open-cut structure was created to serve as the TBM assembly and TBM launch chamber for the Queens soft ground tunnels prior to its permanent use as an interlocking and an emergency exit/ventilation facility and substation. |
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Wood Interlocking
The installation of high speed switches, signal instrument houses and signal bridges were completed in November 2008. The work within this contract provides operational flexibility for LIRR train service at Wood Interlocking in Queens to support ESA construction.
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Demolition
of Superior Reed
Building and Existing Rail
Yard Preparation
Completed in September 2003, three buildings were demolished and tracks removed from the existing rail yard in Queens. To pave the way for future contracts, a construction access road was built and new track was installed to accommodate New York & Atlantic Railway service.
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Arch
Street Yard and Shop
The Arch Street Yard and Shop was completed in June 2005 and is being used for the delivery, testing and acceptance of new LIRR M-7 train cars as part of the LIRR fleet replacement program. In the future, it will support mid-day inspection, maintenance and cleaning of trains that will be used in LIRR GCT service.
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Shaft
Construction at
Existing Bellmouth
Completed in November 2003, this Queens shaft sets the stage for open-cut excavation between Northern Boulevard and the existing rail yard. It also makes the bellmouth of the 63rd Street Tunnel in Manhattan accessible to the hard-rock tunnel boring machine contractor.
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MTA/LIRR
East Side Access —
May 2012
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