3rd Track Constructors was proud to witness Governor Cuomo, joined by MTA Construction & Development President Janno Lieber and LIRR President Phil Eng, cut the ribbon yesterday at the New Hyde Park Road underpass. Our crews have been working intensely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to eliminate the problematic New Hyde Park Road grade crossing and we opened the road yesterday, two months ahead of schedule. Later in the day, we gave a tour of the new underpass to representatives of the Villages of New Hyde Park and Garden City, who celebrated several design features that were included based on community input—including the dedicated left-turn lane onto Clinch Avenue and aesthetically treated concrete walls.
The new configuration features a new five-lane underpass with pedestrian sidewalks on the east and west sides of the underpass. An ADA-compliant pedestrian bridge over the road will provide a safer and easier way to access the New Hyde Park Station, which is currently being enhanced and renovated.
“The New Hyde Park Road grade crossing has been a traffic nightmare for decades, and fixing it was easier said than done. I’m proud to say we’ve just opened the new grade crossing on budget and two months ahead of schedule,” Governor Cuomo said. “With one more crossing eliminated, we are looking forward to fewer delays for LIRR and a transit network that can support a 21st century economy for Long Island and New York.”
Janno Lieber, President of MTA Construction & Development, said, “Finishing a huge upgrade like this one ahead of schedule demonstrates how the MTA is delivering projects faster, better and cheaper than ever before. Under Governor Cuomo’s leadership we have undertaken over 100 LIRR Projects across Long Island, and they have remained on track right through the COVID-19 crisis.”
The grade crossing was closed to vehicular traffic and pedestrians in February 2020. Crews then installed soldier piles, excavated soil to depress the roadway under the tracks, and built the new 3,350-ton railroad bridge and tunnel structure on the south side of the tracks. During a weekend service outage in July, MTA Construction & Development, Long Island Rail Road, and 3TC removed the existing rail infrastructure to allow for excavation and then installation of the new 75-foot, three-bay bridge. 3TC employed an innovative “box-jacking” method to push the enormous structure into perfect position. This is the LIRR Expansion Project team’s third grade crossing elimination, out of eight that will be removed as part of the project.
Click here for the full announcement from the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
The reopening was also profiled in Newsday, which highlights the significance of replacing the grade crossing, reducing traffic congestion, and improving safety.
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.
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