Workers at LIRR’s Third Track project battle coronavirus head on the right way

LIRR’s Third Track expansion project continues to make progress despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIRR

You are not supposed to be able to work around something you can’t see, but the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic while still working on its $2.6 billion Third Track expansion project.

The Third Track, officially called the LIRR Expansion Project, involves building a 10-mile track to help fix a congested hot spot on the main line between Floral Park and Hicksville, N.Y. The addition of a third track will help the LIRR increase capacity and adjust to service disruptions more quickly.

Since the project is spread out over 10 miles practicing social distancing at the jobsite has not been a challenge, but it did require some adjustments. LIRR and 3^rd Track Constructors workers are usually in very small groups, mostly made up of two workers, and extra personal protection equipment is used if social distancing cannot be accomplished. Workers try to avoid sharing tools, which are disinfected every day.

Inspections that are usually done in person are now done off-site with GoPro cameras.

So far, only eight people on the Third Track project, which employs as many as 500, have come down with the coronavirus.

For the latest news, go to www.rtands.com.

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