View of a series of underground tunnels under construction below New York City for the new Long Island Railroad to Queens, NY MTA Eastside Access Project (Click Image To Enlarge)
A LITTLE REMINDER OF WHAT’S GOING ON UNDERNEATH THAT GRAY’S PAPAYA.
It’s easy to take the subway for granted. Just like other subterranean marvels of engineering, it’s a system that’s deliberately hidden from view--you descend into a station, plunge into darkness, and arrive at your destination. In fact, you might forget you’re actually underground the whole time. But you are, and these new photos from the MTA serve as a nice reminder of how much work it takes to put you there.
New tunnels will be constructed from the LIRR Mainline tracks in Queens, under Amtrak's Sunnyside Yard and LIRR's Existing Rail Yard, connecting to the existing 63rd Street Tunnel just beyond Northern Blvd. In Manhattan, new tunnels will be bored from the existing bellmouth structure at Second Avenue and 63rd Street, west and then south, under Park Avenue and Metro-North Railroad's four-track right of way. (Click Image To Enlarge)
The pictures show the current progress of the MTA’s East Side Access project, one which doesn’t actually involve a subway but rather will connect the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal for the first time. It’s currently expected to open in 2019. It involves a lot of digging.
The MTA Eastside Access Project uses a variety of heavy-duty machines, including massive 200-ton boring machines that will be left in place after construction is completed (Click Image To Enlarge)
Workers busy working on the MTA Eastside Access Project underground tunnel construction (Click Image To Enlarge)
Undergrund subway escalator leading to the boarding platform for the new Long Island Rail Road line running from Grand Central Terminal to Queens, N.Y. (Click Image To Enlarge)
View of a still unfinished undergrund subway tube boredd through solid rock for the new Long Island Rail Road line running from Grand Central Terminal to Queens, N.Y.
Thankfully, we’re not just sending people down there with shovels. These types of tunnels are excavated using a variety of heavy-duty machines, including massive 200-ton drills that are so big, and so unwieldy, that in some cases it’s actually far less expensive to just leave them down there after they’re done working--which is exactly what they did with one such machine involved in the East Side Access project last year.
Underground tennel workers removing rock from new bored subway tunnels for the MTA Eastside Access Project running from Grand Central Station to Queens N.Y. (Click Image To Enlarge)
Slated for completion in 2019, it will eventually connect the Long Island Rail Road lines to Grand Central Terminal (Click Image To Enlarge)
Incredible view of a huge underground chamber bored from solid rock under the streets of New York for the new MTA Eastside Access Project (Click Image To Enlarge)
The photos serve as a nice reminder that when you’re taking the subway or traveling out of Grand Central, you really are underground (Click Image To Enlarge)
COMMENTARY: Now that's what I call a massive underground project. It's quite impressive to see the massive size of the underground tunnels and chambers bored using humongous boring machines and heavy drilling equipment. Can hardly wait to see the new Long Island Railroad extension from Grand Central Terminal to Queens, N.Y. when it is finally completed in 2019.
The MTA Capital Program provides the critical infrastructure investments that keep New York's transit system moving. In this video, you'll learn about the Capital Program's three major projects to extend the network for the first time in two generations: the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access, and the 7 Subway Extension.
East Side Access Facts
- $8.24 Billion Project
- New 8 Track LIRR Terminal at Grand Central Terminal
- 22,000 square feet of new retail space
- 46 escalators and 13 elevators
- Revenue service to begin August 2019
When completed, MTA's East Side Access project will bring Long Island Rail Road trains into Grand Central Terminal. Here's a one-minute explanation of the project.
What is the MTA EastSide Access Project (Click To View A Video)
Courtesy of an article dated March 1, 2013 appearing in Fast Company Design
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Posted by: J Honlokal | 03/13/2013 at 05:53 AM