On Monday, June 1st, community leaders, including New Hyde Park Mayor Lawrence J. Montreuil and Village Trustee Rainer Burger, joined members of the 3TC project team for a tour of the New Hyde Park Road Grade Crossing Elimination Project, which is currently underway.
Officials were delighted to see how far the project had come in such a short amount of time. Mayor Montreuil praised the efforts of construction crews stating he was “impressed by how quickly the project has progressed.”
The group toured the area, viewing the newly paved and realigned Plaza Avenue, as well as the north and south sides of the rail road tracks where the new underpass is coming to life.
3TC’s Nick Almeter, area manager of Bridges and Undergrade Crossings on the LIRR Expansion Project, has successfully lead the charge on two grade-crossing eliminations to date, as part of the overall project. New Hyde Park Road will be the second elimination in New Hyde Park, not far from the recently completed Covert Avenue.
Construction crews are currently preparing the site for a highly anticipated bridge push, which will be completed over a 48-hour period on the weekend of July 11. During the push, the existing tracks and sheet piles are removed and the new bridge, which sits atop a concrete U-structure and adds to the combined total of 4,000 tons, is pushed into place using a unique box-jacking system. The upcoming bridge push will be just the third time in the United States where construction crews are implementing the method to install a new bridge. Where did the two previous uses of box-jacking occur in the U.S.? Right here on the LIRR Expansion Project, in fact, with the work performed by 3TC crews.
Designed in conjunction with the Village of New Hyde Park, the new underpass will provide faster and safer commutes for motorists, pedestrians and LIRR customers while also creating a quieter and more livable community along the railroad.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Long Island communities over the past several months, the LIRR Expansion Project has continued its essential work, making significant progress while following all necessary safety guidelines to keep community members and our crews safe.
From left to right: Ginger Conforti – Assistant Outreach Director, 3TC; Brent Malcolm – Transportation Engineer, Stantec; Nick Almeter – Bridges and Undergrade Crossings Area Manager, 3TC; Rainer Burger – Village of New Hyde Park Trustee; Travis Brennan – Director of Community Outreach, 3TC; New Hyde Park Mayor Lawrence J. Montreuil; Judy White – Community Ambassador, 3TC
Mayor Montreuil walks with Nick Almeter, Mariam Abudlbough (Project Engineer, 3TC) and Travis Brennan, along the newly paved 115 New Hyde Park Road parking lot.
The newly repaved 115 New Hyde Park Road lot will soon be striped for parking.
The north side of the underpass has been successfully regraded and precast wall panels, which line the new underpass, are nearing completion.
Steel erection has been complete for the new bridge. This track bay will hold the existing two tracks as well as the additional third track.
Nick Almeter invited Mayor Montreuil on to the new steel bridge, which is expected to be waterproofed in the coming weeks.
Project engineers stand on the new bridge and discuss the immense detail and effort that grade crossing eliminations involve.
Project engineers stand on the new bridge and discuss the immense detail and effort that grade crossing eliminations involve.
Nick Almeter explains the box-jacking method to Village Trustee Rainer Burger. Each one of these hydraulic jacks will be placed in front of the new U-structure, which holds the newly built steel bridge, in anticipation of the bridge push over the weekend of July 11th.
Nick Almeter explains the box-jacking method to Village Trustee Rainer Burger. Each one of these hydraulic jacks will be placed in front of the new U-structure, which holds the newly built steel bridge, in anticipation of the bridge push over the weekend of July 11th.
Nick Almeter explains the box-jacking method to Village Trustee Rainer Burger. Each one of these hydraulic jacks will be placed in front of the new U-structure, which holds the newly built steel bridge, in anticipation of the bridge push over the weekend of July 11th.
To stay informed about the LIRR Expansion Project, make sure to register for updates at – https://lirrexpansion.com/register-for-updates/. Should you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us through our 24/7 hotline, 516-203-4955 or email us at CommunityOutreach@LIRRexpansion.com.