New Cassel – Highlights on Upcoming Construction

New Cassel

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

The duration and intensity of work depends on the project element under construction. The project elements are phased to reduce the amount of disruption in any given community at any given time.

During the month of June, you will see construction crews performing work in New Cassel, including surveying, testing, ongoing rodent control, and monitoring construction activities for noise, dust, and vibration. By way of explanation:

Urban Avenue Grade Crossing Elimination Project

• As with other project elements of the LIRR Expansion Project, progress may be difficult to see from beyond the safety barricades, however, you should know that significant progress is being made by the 3TC construction team and their associated contractors on the Urban Avenue Grade Crossing Elimination. In the last month, crews have:
  • Installed rebar and begun pouring concrete on what will be the roadbed of the Urban Avenue underpass on the south side of the LIRR mainline
  • Asphalt will be added to the roadbed as foundation for the new, depressed roadway
• During the month of June, you will see construction crews:
  • Performing excavation work
  • Along the south side of the project, there will be:
    • Curing of railroad back walls and pedestals before steel erection
    • Erecting and waterproofing of the steel railroad bridge § Installing jacking equipment to support structures
  • Along the north side of the project, there will be:
    • Installation of precast panels
  • Flagging and surveying on the north and south sides
• Urban Avenue, from Broadway to Main Street, remains closed. To accommodate the full closure of Urban Avenue, a detour plan was designed to navigate around the closure as easy as possible
• A free pedestrian shuttle service is provided from the corner of Broadway and Urban Avenue (north of the tracks) to Main Street and Urban Avenue (south of the tracks). The shuttle is planned to run seven days a week, every half hour from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Urban Avenue to School Street Wall Construction

• Following excavation along the south side of the railroad right-of-way and to prepare for the installation of a retaining wall, soldier piles will be driven into the ground at regular intervals to form a wall for earth support
  • Installed by vibratory hammers, soldier piles provide the support necessary for the construction of the retaining wall
• Precast wall panels will be installed on the south side of the right-of-way
• The pile line will be surveyed along the right-of-way to ensure stability
• Drilled shafts for support will be installed from Grand Boulevard to Urban Avenue on the north side. Drilled shafts will also be installed along the south side of the route, where cutting of the walls will also take place
• Excavation and installation of retaining panels, lagging and sound walls
• A concrete barrier will be installed and the existing fence from Ellison Avenue to Urban Avenue will be removed
• In adherence to our commitment to minimize disruption to the community, noise, dust, and vibration monitoring devices are deployed
• To accommodate this work, fuel and concrete trucks will make deliveries along the right-of-way

LIRR Work along the Railroad Right-of-Way

• In addition to 3TC’s activities, LIRR forces will be working along the railroad right-of-way
• To avoid LIRR service interruptions during peak commuting hours, LIRR work along the railroad right-of-way may take place overnight and on weekends
• These activities are ongoing across the Main Line corridor, and may include: regular track inspection & maintenance, rail tie replacement, and grade crossing elimination
• For more information, visit the post in the Community News section of LIRRExpansion.com