Weekend Work February 22 - 25, 2013

On the weekend of February 22-25,  line service was suspended between Queensboro Plaza and Times Sq-42 St allowing maintenance workers and contractors to work on critical construction projects.  When completed, these projects will have a positive impact on the service reliability and comfort of this important rail transportation link between Downtown Flushing, Queens and Midtown Manhattan.

The work performed this weekend included the pouring of concrete for the construction of a duct bank in the Steinway Tunnel.  For the first-time ever, a crane was used to lift a 73,000-pound fully-loaded cement truck onto the line tracks in Long Island City to facilitate the delivery of concrete in the under river tunnel.  When concrete is required for subway construction projects, it is usually “pumped in” through an opening in the street and taken to the work site by wheel barrel or other construction equipment such as a small “front end loader.”

Signal System Modernization CBTC, Flushing Line

The contractor continued work associated with the installation of a modern signal system, known as Communications Based Train Control (CBTC), on the 9.4-mile long Flushing Line; the project is scheduled for completion in late 2016.

Accomplishments this weekend include the installation of 113 serving cables at Times Square Interlocking, four ladders and 22 grab handles at seven locations and third rail boots and flash boards.  Also, “Next Train” signs were installed at Times Square-42 St station, 240 cable tray brackets and conduit was painted and five cases of signal equipment were terminated from Times Sq-42 St to 5 Av.

Additional Work

This work includes demolishing ducts on both outers wall of the Steinway Tunnel and constructing a new duct bank that will house cables that supplies power to the third rail. 

During the past weekend the contractor installed 245 linear feet of steel forms on the Manhattan-bound and 550 linear feet of re-bar and fiber class duct. The contractor also removed 1090 feet of old duct bank on the Main St-bound track, removed 630 feet of old lead cable from under the First Avenue Interlocking, and 240 feet of old communication.  In addition, 220 feet of conduit for new control cable was installed on the Main St-bound track near the Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av station.