Weekend Work March 1 - 4, 2013

During the weekend of March 1-4, service on the  line was suspended between Queensboro Plaza and Times Sq-42 St, giving subway maintenance workers and contractors an opportunity to work on critical construction projects.  The completed projects will enhance the line experience by improving service reliability, customer comfort and customer communications.  The line links Downtown Flushing, Queens and Midtown Manhattan.

Work performed this weekend included the pouring of concrete for the construction of a duct bank in the Steinway Tunnel.  To facilitate the delivery of concrete, a 73,000-pound fully-loaded cement truck was lifted by crane and placed onto the  line tracks in Long Island City.  The truck was then driven into the Steinway 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.  Achievements this weekend include the continued patching of concrete and sealing of water leaks between Grand Central-42 St and First Avenue.   The contractor also installed 25 serving cables, one signal and one signal case at 5 Av.  Signal equipment was terminated at First Avenue and 620 feet of signal cable was installed.

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, on the Manhattan-bound track, the contractor poured concrete for 1,250 feet of duct bank installed 500 feet of steel form work and completed the installation of 600 feet of rebar and fiberglass duct work. An additional 1,690 feet of vertical rebar was installed on the Manhattan-bound track in preparation for future fiberglass duct work.

Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av Station

Wall and ceiling water remedy and repair work was completed.

Capital Track Program

Track workers replaced track panels on the Manhattan-bound track, near Queensboro Plaza Station in the direction of Court Sq.