NYCT’s Greenpoint Tube to close for five weeks for post-Sandy renewal efforts

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor
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Marc A. Hermann / MTA New York City Transit

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York City Transit's (NYCT) Fix&Fortify Sandy recovery work is returning to the G Greenpoint Tube for five consecutive weeks, beginning July 25 and ending September 2.

 

During that time, G train service will be suspended between Long Island City-Court Sq. and Nassau Av. The tube, which connects Long Island City with the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, suffered extensive damage during Superstorm Sandy when three million gallons of salt water flooded the tunnel at the height of the storm. Tracks and equipment were totally submerged and the tunnel’s pump controls, electrical, communications, fan control and signal equipment all incurred serious damage. Power cables immersed in salt water corroded from the inside, while corrosion on rails and fasteners increased the potential for delay-causing failures. The controls for ventilation, lighting and communication systems were all destroyed and have yet to be restored to their level of pre-Sandy reliability. While the MTA worked to restore service as quickly as possible after the storm, it was immediately clear that future, more extensive work would be necessary to repair and rebuild these vital systems in order to ensure safe and reliable service.

Workers will take advantage of the 24/7 access to install permanent tunnel lighting and support components, perform work in tunnel lighting rooms, install new signals, install fiber-optic cable and install antenna cables, as well as test all of the newly installed equipment. Track Capital Construction will take advantage of the extended shutdown to complete all necessary trackwork. Additionally, several elements of work requiring access to the tracks for the ventilation system will be performed.

 

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