New Hyde Park – Highlights on Upcoming Construction

New Hyde Park:

The LIRR’s Third Track Expansion Project, one of the region’s most significant transportation infrastructure projects, is now underway throughout communities along the nearly ten mile stretch of track, from Floral Park to Hicksville.

While major construction may not begin until this autumn, 3rd Track Constructors (3TC) and their contractors have begun pre-construction work along the route of the project. Pre-construction work may include clearing overgrown vegetation; installing construction access gates; surveying adjacent areas, specifically in-and-around rail road crossings; testing and analyzing the soil; inspecting structures in-and-around future work sites; among other tasks.

During the month of May, you will begin to see additional construction crews in New Hyde Park performing a variety of pre-construction tasks. Specifically on roads in-and-around the rail road, there will be crews performing Soil Stability Surveys; Cone Penetration Testing; locating existing underground utilities; clearing overgrown vegetation; taking geographic surveys of the existing roadways; conducting pre-construction inspections of the existing conditions of the structures surrounding worksites; and monitoring for noise. Along the right-of-way, crews will perform Percolation Testing and dig test pits to locate existing underground utilities. By way of explanation:

Soil Stability Survey

• Soil stability surveys provide a more in-depth view of the composition of the soil
• The equipment used is a drill-rig truck
• The drilling rig takes soil samples from down to a depth of 50 feet
• Samples are then sent to a laboratory for review, evaluation and testing
• The results of the surveys/tests allow for the design team to determine what methods, material and design they can incorporate into Third Track construction

Percolation Testing

• A percolation test measures the rate at which water seeps into the soil
• Hand tools are utilized to dig small test pits
• Much like other tests, the results of a percolation test allow for the design team to determine what methods, material and design they can incorporate into the project

Existing Roadway Surveys

• A specially equipped van is driven to specific points to video and photograph the condition of the existing roadways, prior to construction beginning
• The survey is conducted to ensure the roadways are protected in the unlikely event of any damage

Existing Structure Surveys

• Property located within a specified radius of anticipated construction work requires a pre-construction photo inspection
• The survey is conducted to ensure the property is protected in the unlikely event of any damage
• Vibranalysis Inc., an independent consulting firm, will perform the survey
• Inspection consists of photographs and written documentation, recording the existing conditions of the interiors and exteriors of the structures surrounding the site

Cone Penetration Testing (CPT)

• CPT provides an effective way to see the composition of the soil in a particular area
• Enclosed inside of a box truck, electronic equipment takes electronic/sonar readings
• CPT takes less time, allowing for tests to be run at multiple locations in one day
• The results of the surveys/tests allow for the design team to determine what methods, material and design they can incorporate into the project

Existing Underground Utilities Identification

• Both on Covert Avenue and along the right-of-way, crews will dig test pits to locate existing underground utilities to ensure community and worker safety

Noise Monitoring

• This will establish a noise baseline within proximity of future planned work
• Monitoring equipment is typically installed for an approximate duration of 48 to 72 hours
• In most instances, the equipment is hidden within vegetation