New Hyde Park – Highlights on Upcoming Construction

New Hyde Park

Significant progress has been made on the LIRR Expansion Project from Floral Park to Hicksville, one of the region’s most noteworthy transportation infrastructure projects. While the duration and intensity of work depends on the project element under construction, the 3^rd Track Constructors team is phasing in specific project elements to reduce the amount of disruption in any given community at any given time.

Covert Avenue Grade Crossing Elimination Project – Roadway to Reopen

• Work continues at the site of the grade crossing elimination, ahead of the planned reopening of Covert Avenue on Saturday, Oct. 12, including:
  • Regrading connecting roadways to meet the new grade of the underpass
  • Repaving and restriping
  • Installing new sidewalks
  • Restoring and connecting driveway aprons
• To meet the new grade-level of the Covert Avenue Underpass, a very small portion of Wayne Avenue, closest to Covert Avenue, will be reconstructed. During this project activity, a detour will be in effect. All vehicular traffic accessing Covert Avenue from 3rd Avenue, Wayne Avenue and/or Premiere Avenue will be redirected to utilize 5th Avenue
• Following additional work in and around the area, when Covert Avenue reopens, there will be a two-lane, grade-separated underpass with a pedestrian sidewalk on the east side of the underpass
• The reconstructed grade crossing, designed in conjunction with the Village of New Hyde Park, will enhance safety and provide for a quieter and more livable community along the railroad
• The detour plan, designed following extensive traffic impact studies and with input from local officials, remains in place so that navigating around the closure is as easy as possible. Click here to see the detour map
• Businesses along Covert Avenue remain accessible throughout construction

During the month of October, you will see crews continuing construction activities in New Hyde Park. By way of explanation:

115 New Hyde Park Road – Utility Relocation & Installation

• In the area of the demolished building at 115 New Hyde Park Road, crews from 3rd Track Constructors continue to work to install a new sanitary line and storm water retention system
  • 2nd Avenue, between Herkomer Street and New Hyde Park Road, is closed. It will reopen when the New Hyde Park Grade Crossing Elimination Project is complete –expected Summer 2020
  • As agreed to with representatives from the Villages, 3TC will provide a one-for-one replacement, inside the footprint of 115 New Hyde Park Road, for the on-street parking spaces impacted by this activity
  • Please click here to see the detour map for information on how to access the parking lot and how to navigate around the road closure

New Hyde Park Station Enhancement Project

• The New Hyde Park Station Enhancement Project will include significant enhancements, developed through input and support received from the local community. Some features include:
  • New platforms to accommodate 12-car trains; platform canopies; new platform furnishings and accoutrements including benches, shelters and signage
  • CCTV security cameras to improve safety
  • ADA-compliant mobility improvements including ramps
  • Wi-Fi; USB charging stations; and digital information displays
• In preparation for the New Hyde Park Station Enhancement Project, crews will begin constructing a temporary station, between South 12^th and Covert Avenue
  • Construction on the temporary platform is expected to last about five weeks
  • The new, temporary station will replace the existing station during the New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Elimination project
  • The temporary platform will be 850 feet west of the existing platform, and accommodate 10-car trains. As a result of construction, 20 commuter parking spaces will be lost
• Following the completion of the temporary station, crews will demolish the existing platform
• To support the construction of the new permanent platform, 3TC crews will begin temporary utility relocation and installation on the south side of the tracks

New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Elimination Project

• The New Hyde Park Road grade crossing in New Hyde Park and Garden City is one of eight street-level crossings to be eliminated as part of the LIRR Expansion Project from Floral Park to Hicksville
  • The at-grade crossing is being reconstructed to feature a new, five-lane underpass with pedestrian sidewalks on the east and west sides of the underpass. There will also be a dedicated left-turn lane from southbound New Hyde Park Road to Clinch Avenue
  • Plaza Avenue west between Herkomer Street and New Hyde Park Road, will be realigned and become a two-way street, to improve traffic flow associated with the new signal being installed at New Hyde Park Road and Plaza Avenue
• This reconstructed grade crossing was designed in conjunction with the Village of New Hyde Park and the Village of Garden City and will enhance safety and provide for a quieter and more livable community along the railroad
• During the month of October, crews are continuing work on this project element
  • Soldier piles on New Hyde Park Road are being drilled to support the formation of the retaining wall required for excavation
  • Sections of soldier piles are installed by vibratory hammers, in sequence, forming the wall for earth support
  • This activity may require intermittent changes to the traffic patterns along New Hyde Park Road

New Hyde Park Road Traffic Alteration

• As a result of feedback from emergency service personnel and elected officials in New Hyde Park and Garden City/Garden City Park, traffic along New Hyde Park Road, south of the tracks, will be modified
• A barrier is installed at the intersection with Clinch Avenue
  • In consultation with elected officials from New Hyde Park, for vehicles traveling northbound on New Hyde Park Road, at the intersection with Fourth Avenue, please note the new Don’t Block the Box signage
  • For vehicles traveling southbound on New Hyde Park Road, the new barrier prevents left turns onto southbound Clinch Avenue
  • For vehicles traveling northbound on Clinch Avenue, the new barrier prevents left turns onto southbound New Hyde Park Road
• Signage is in place in and around the intersection to ensure driver and pedestrian safety

LIRR Work along the Railroad Right-of-Way

• In addition and complementary to 3TC’s activities, you may see or hear LIRR forces working along the railroad right-of-way. These activities may include:
  • Regular track inspection and maintenance; Rail tie replacement; Grade crossing elimination preparatory work
• To avoid LIRR service interruptions during peak commuting hours, LIRR work along the railroad right-of-way may take place overnight and on weekends
• We recognize that these activities may be disruptive and we remain committed to seeing the work completed in as short of a time frame as possible, all while maintaining safe and reliable operations
• For more information, visit the post in the Community News section of LIRRExpansion.com

LIRR Station Access and Service Changes

• There will be no weekend train service from New Hyde Park to Hicksville from Friday, Oct. 4 at 10:00 p.m. to Monday, Oct. 7 at 5:00 a.m. For up-to-date service changes and/or changes to station access, please visit MTA.info/LIRR