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 July, 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 to School Street Wall Construction

• In June, excavation took place along the south side of the railroad right-of-way, preparing for the installation of a retaining wall. Crews also drove soldier piles into the ground at regular intervals to form a wall for earth support
• In July, the following wall activities will continue:
  • 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
• Additionally, crews will prepare to remove stumps and clear vegetation from Grand Boulevard to Urban Avenue on the north side of the right-of-way
• 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

167 School Street Demolition

• Following the completion of environmental testing of the existing structure, demolition of 167 School Street will commence. The area will be protected and contained and monitored for dust, debris, and noise

Urban Avenue Grade Crossing Elimination Project

• Significant progress is being made by the 3TC construction team on the Urban Avenue Grade Crossing Elimination. In the last month, crews:
  • Performed ongoing excavation work
  • Erected and waterproofed the steel railroad bridge
  • Installed precast panels along the north side right-of-way
    • Asphalt will be added to the roadbed as foundation for the new, depressed roadway
• During the first part of the month, you will see construction crews preparing for the final phase of the project, including:
  • Performing excavation work to prepare for a pump station and storm water discharge systems along Track 1 and Track 2
  • Installing storm water discharge systems
  • Along the south side of the project, you will see crews:
    • Curing the railroad back walls and pedestals
    • Waterproofing the steel railroad bridge
    • Installing jacking equipment
  • Along the north side of the project, you will see crews:
    • Relocating utilities to new poles along the north side of Urban Avenue
    • Installing precast panels
  • Flagging and surveying on the north and south sides
• During the weekend of July 20th, 3TC construction crew will push the newly constructed bridge into position
  • This work will require a double track outage and more details will follow on LIRRExpansion.com and through associated notifications
• 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.

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