Garden City & Garden City Park
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 July, you may see crews in and around Garden City and Garden City Park performing ongoing rodent control, and monitoring construction activities for noise, dust, and vibration. By way of explanation:
Merillon Avenue Station Enhancement
- Construction on the new Merillon Avenue station is in full swing, with the 3TC construction team having already removed the western halves of the platforms on the north and south sides of the tracks and installed columns/piers to support the new station platform
- Once the western halves are rebuilt, the eastern halves will be removed and rebuilt, in a similar fashion
- Transferring between platforms will require additional time
- The new platforms will accommodate 12-car trains, instead of limited to the 10-car train lengths
- Activity at Merillon Avenue Station will increase during the month of July, with crews:
- Setting rebar and pouring piers on the north and south side of the platform
- Relocating utilities on the south side of the station, from Nassau Boulevard to Meadowbrook Road
- Parking along the north side of Main Avenue will be eliminated
- In coordination with the Village of Garden City, replacement parking will be provided along the eastbound side of Main Avenue (on the south side of the street) for approximately the duration of the month of July
- Conducting electrical work, including installing a cross track conduit and pulling cables for the signal hut
- Removing barrier and fencing on the south side platform
- Installing platform panels on the southwest side platform
- Installing a temporary platform along the southwest side of the station
- Installing platform panels and rub board – board along the platform edge – on the northwest side of the station.
- Installing tactile warning strip on the north platform
- Signage will be displayed to alert commuters of the ongoing construction activities
- To board/exit trains at Merillon Avenue Station, please be prepared to board and exit all trains (westbound and eastbound) from the first six (6) cars
Nassau Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project
- Just east of Merillon Avenue Station, work on the Nassau Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project began on June 24th:
- The Nassau Boulevard Bridge, a low-hanging bridge, has been the site of many accidents over the years, resulting in train delays in both directions while LIRR crews worked to determine the bridge’s safety and structural stability before restoring train service
- Slated to be removed and replaced with a three-track structure, the Nassau Boulevard Bridge Replacement Project is expected to be complete at the end of October 2019
- The Nassau Boulevard Bridge is one of seven bridges along the LIRR Main Line that is being modified. On June 2, the Cherry Lane Bridge in Carle Place was replaced in a similar fashion and along a similar timeline. (See photos in Recent News on the home page of www.lirrexpansion.com)
- As a result of the preparatory work:
- One lane of Nassau Boulevard will be closed and flaggers and signage will be in place to direct drivers to proceed north and south in an alternating fashion along the remaining open lane
- Friday, July 26 at 7:00 p.m. – Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 a.m.
- Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. – Sunday, July 28 at 7:00 a.m.
- One lane of Nassau Boulevard will be closed and flaggers and signage will be in place to direct drivers to proceed north and south in an alternating fashion along the remaining open lane
- Beginning Thursday, August 1, Nassau Boulevard will be limited to a single, southbound lane for approximately five weeks. Northbound traffic will be directed to follow the detour / traffic management plan, developed in coordination with Village officials, that will guide drivers during the closure
- Additionally, at least one pedestrian sidewalk under the bridge will remain accessible for the majority of the construction period
Nassau 1 Interlocking
- A railroad interlocking is where trains switch from track-to-track at junctions or crossings. The interlocking at Nassau 1 will be modified to accommodate the traffic management for three tracks.
- Work during the month of July, which may include overnight and weekend work, will include:
- Installation of temporary ballast retainers, requiring a single lane closure on Nassau Boulevard for the removal of the concrete encasement
- Test pits along the south side to understand soil composition in preparation for excavation and foundations
- Installation of bridge brackets and the forming and pouring of wall from Whitehall Boulevard to Herricks Road.
- Temporary utilities installation, including manholes and power mole on both the north and south sides of the track.
- Work during the month of July, which may include overnight and weekend work, will include:
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