Thursday, December 20, 2012

Seasonal Snapshots on the Avenue


As I've done in past years in December, I recently took a walk down Second Avenue to look for signs of the holiday spirit amid ongoing construction.

The pictures that follow were taken on two different Saturdays. They offer the viewer a collection of fall and early winter snapshots of the scene on Second Avenue.



12/8/12
93rd Street, SE corner - looking W

Amid the springy colors above, a Christmas tree is visible through the construction fencing.



10/27/12
97th Street - looking S

The contractor at this location is in the process of excavating material (earth and rock) from the cavern below street level.

The cavern will eventually house a tunnel that will connect the former TBM launch box cavern (between 92nd and 95th streets) with the existing tunnel under Second Avenue that starts near 99th Street.

The existing tunnel between 99th and 105th streets, which is not currently in use, was constructed back in the 1970s.



12/8/12
97th Street, SW corner

A view down into an excavated area near 97th Street.

The four steel pipe struts in this image are waiting to be installed inside the tunnel cavern that is being excavated under Second Avenue between 95th and 99th streets. Each strut weighs about 40,000 pounds.



10/27/12

An earlier image of the same location. Note the large corner bracing beams that are in use at this location.



10/27/12

An image of a pressure gauge that I noticed on the side of a tank inside the construction area.



12/8/12
btw. 96th and 97th streets, SE corner - looking W

Workers on a Saturday use a crane to reposition material inside the cavern below.



10/27/12
btw. 96th and 97th streets

Oblivious to plans and progress in the construction zone, a squirrel buries an acorn.




10/27/12
btw. 95th and 96th

A view of the temporary roadway decking above the cavern. In the 1970s, the contractors working on the Second Avenue subway up in Harlem used wooden timbers for roadway decking above their tunnel caverns.



12/8/12
btw. 93rd and 94th street - looking S

The drill rig on the left is being used to excavate a section of secant walls at this location.



12/8/12

A closer look at the sections of secant walls under construction at this location. Note the steel beams that have been placed inside each of these secant wall sections.



10/27/12
94th Street, SW corner - looking W

This would appear to be a concrete pumping station. Concrete is trucked to this location and then pumped (from the red skips) into the work area below ground.

Correction:
According to a readers comment, the tanks in this image are being used to hold the spoils (excavated material) from the drilling of micropiles inside the old Rainbow Hardware store on this corner. This corner will become an entrance to the new 96th Street station.



10/27/12
93rd Street

A device that is being used for vector control, i.e. a rat trap.



9/6/12
Courtesy of Bruce Martin
87th Street, SE corner - looking SW

This image gives you an idea what is going on inside the muck house between 86th and 87th streets.

The blue skips are used hold the material that has been excavated from the cavern below until it can be trucked away.

The gray ductwork is part of the air scrubber system at this location.  The scrubber filters and cleans the exhaust air after blasting has taken place in the station cavern below ground.



10/27/12
btw. 85th and 86th Streets

Above, fall leaves gently cover the now quiet work site.



12/8/12
btw. 85th street - looking N

A set of holiday wreaths. The lighted digits "15" may represent Local 15 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.



12/8/12

A closeup of one of the wreaths.

The Christmas lights in the window are not a reflection -- they are actually hanging inside the structure.



12/8/12

1605 Second Avenue (btw. 83rd and 84th streets)

This sign, in the window of the "All Washed Up" laundromat on Second Avenue, announces that this location will soon be closing.



10/27/12
83rd Street, SW corner

This odd looking device is another one of the wet scrubbers that has been set up in support of the 86th Street station excavation project.

The machine is made by the company Schauenburg Flexadux Corporation. (Click on this link to see how this machine works.)



10/27/12

When I took these pictures, workers were in the process of building an enclosure around part of the machine.



12/8/12



12/8/12

A recent view of the scrubber - now with the housing in place.



12/8/12
btw. 82nd and 83rd streets, east side - looking N

Christmas wreaths on the doors of a local restaurant with signs of the ongoing construction on the left.



12/8/12
87th Street, SE corner

For the longest time a homeless man, Jose Perez, occupied this corner just north of the Food Emporium, together with his dog.

Sadly it has been reported the man has recently passed away.






Here are a few shots of the construction below ground, courtesy of the MTA.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/14/12

A view of the 72nd Street station cavern.  (I suspect that this is a view looking north, but I am not 100% sure of this.)

Blasting inside the main cavern is now complete and the MTA's  contractor is in process of waterproofing the structure.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/14/12

A view from inside one of the tunnels that connects the existing 63rd Street/Lexington Av station with the new 72nd Street station under Second Avenue.




Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/14/12

A view from inside the west crossover cavern just south of 69th Street under Second Avenue.

The tunnel on the right leads to the north side of the upper level of the 63rd Street/Lexington Av station.

In Phase III of the project, the MTA will mine a new tunnel into this cavern from the south. This new tunnel, which will break through the wall in this cavern just to the left of the existing tunnel, will allow this line to continue south under Second Avenue.




The following report was recently posted on the MTA's web site:


Second Avenue Subway
MTACC Quarterly Progress Report to Capital Program Oversight Committee
December 2012

Here's a summary of the report:

The project is "on budget" and is on schedule to meet the December 2016 revenue service date.

But with that said, the MTA's Independent Engineering Consultant believes that there are only 45 days of scheduled contingency remaining - which is not much, considering that there are still four years of work to do.




As I was putting this posting to bed this evening I came across the recent bid results for for the 72nd Street Station Finishes contract.

RFQ#: 35203
Bid Close Date: 12/18/2012 2:00:00 PM
Description: C-26011 72nd Street Station Entrances, Ancillary Buildings, Finishes and MEP Equipment (Second Avenue Subway Project)

Vendor Name / Bid:
JUDLAU CONTRACTING,INC.
$258,353,000

SKANSKA-RAILWORKS SAS STATION JV
$268,880,000

72ND STREET CONSTRUCTORS JOINT VENTURE
$274,056,163

TUTOR PERINI/CITNALTA, A JOINT VENTURE
$285,427,000

KIEWIT INFRASTRUCTURE CO.
$315,795,000


Judlau Contracting is the MTA's contractor for the SAS 63rd St/Lexington Av Station Rehabilitation Contract.




Here's a listing of the recent additions
to the right-hand column of The Launch Box:

"Residents Fear Future Storms Could Flood Second Avenue Subway"
By Victoria Bekiempis
DNAinfo - 12/19/12

Photos: "New York’s Second Ave. Subway Construction"
By Zachary Stieber
Epoch Times - 12/14/12

"Take the T Train"
By Liz Neumark
The Huffington Post - 12/11/12

"Second Avenue Subway Construction"
By Turner G. Cowles
Video (2:37)
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
12/8/12

"Don’t hold your breath"
By Kevin C. Brown
Remapping Debate - 12/5/12

"The Second Avenue NYC Subway Dig, part 1"
Video (3:16)
ASME.org - 10/12

"The Second Avenue NYC Subway Dig, part 2"
Video (3:16)
ASME.org - 10/12

::

In Other News:

The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) that mined the tunnels for the Second Avenue Subway has found a temporary new home, in Indianapolis, Ohio, where it soon will be hard at work mining a new wastewater tunnel to the Belmont Wastewater Treatment Plant.

"TBM Gets Wastewater Retrofit"
Trenchless International
12/8/12

Thursday, November 1, 2012

The MTA Recovers

Last Updated 12/22/12

Hurricane Sandy dealt a devastating blow to the MTA earlier this week. MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota stated that the storm damage to the transit system is like nothing the MTA has experienced in its 108-year history.

From what I understand, none of MTA Capital Construction's work sites on Second Avenue were damaged during the storm.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that there may have been some flooding at the 96th Street work site due to overspill from the East River.

On Thursday, November 1st, there was a report that one or more of the contractors was having trouble getting timely delivery of concrete to the site due to road congestion and excessive delays crossing the bridges into Manhattan. It is my understanding that most concrete products must be discharged (at the job site) within 90 minutes after water has been added to the cement, or the concrete cannot be used.

Two sources have told me that fuel for the concrete trucks has in some cases been difficult to come by.

Update 11/6/12:
Work at the 72nd Street work site has been temporary suspended, due to difficulty obtaining concrete, until Monday the 12th. Diesel fuel for the concrete trucks apparently is still in short supply.

Also, a very reliable source told me earlier today that there was no flooding at any of the work sites on Second Avenue.



New York City Hurricane Flood Map

As shown in the map above, the 96th Street work site is located just at the edge of Flood Zone B, shown in yellow.

::

Here are a few images (below) of the damage that was inflicted on the MTA's subways, tunnels and railroads. I'll post more images as they are released over the next few days.


Sat. December 22, 2012



MTA New York City Transit / Marc Hermann
12/19/12

On Friday, December 21, 2012, R trains resumed service through the Montague Tube, which connects Brooklyn Heights with Lower Manhattan after more than a month of around-the-clock work.

In this photo, the Nassau Street Loop branches off to the right, and water damage can be seen on the ceiling.



MTA New York City Transit / Marc Hermann
12/19/12

Another view from inside the Montague Tube.



MTA New York City Transit / Marc Hermann
12/19/12

This photo shows signal relay cabinets with entirely new contents.



Tue. November 27, 2012



Overview of Subway and Bus preparations, impact and recovery
New York City Transit Committee Meeting
MTA Board of Directors
11/26/12
44 pages

MTA Impact List
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Posted on Scribd on 11/27/12
3 pages

The MTA's preliminary request for $5.023 billion, which include $3.5 million for the Second Avenue Subway.



Fri. November 9, 2012


"New York Subway Repairs Border ‘on the Edge of Magic’ "
By Matt Flegenheimer
The New York Times, 11/9/12, page 1

A comprehensive overview of what it took to bring the New York City transit system "back to life" after Hurricane Sandy.



Wed.. November 7, 2012



MTA New York City Transit / David Henly
11/7/12

Damage sustained by the South Ferry station on the New York City Subway's 1 Line. The station was flooded by seawater during Hurricane Sandy.



MTA New York City Transit / David Henly
11/7/12

Another image from the South Ferry station.



"MTA Video Release: Canarsie Tube Signal and Track Recovery Operations"
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
via YouTube
11/7/12

Video footage of MTA employees working to restore the tracks and signals of the 14th Street Tunnel under the East River, which carries the L subway line between Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The tunnel has been pumped dry of water, and workers are now focused on repairing tracks and signals.



MTA New York City Transit / Marc A. Hermann
11/7/12

Electrical components that were damaged by seawater flooding in the L train tunnel.



MTA New York City Transit / Marc A. Hermann
11/7/12



Mon. November 5, 2012



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12

MTA employees using a pump train to remove seawater from the 14th Street tunnel, which is used by the L Train, under the East River. The tunnel was flooded during the unprecedented 13-foot storm surge of Hurricane Sandy.

After the tunnel is pumped dry of water, work will begin to inspect tracks, signals, switches, electrical components, and the third rail.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12

Two more shots from inside the 14th Street tunnel.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12

The South Ferry subway station. This station was totally flooded with seawater during Hurricane Sandy's storm surge.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/5/12

New York City Transit employees worked to restore damaged electrical equipment that is part of the signal system on the R line.



Sat. November 3, 2012



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/3/12

The South Ferry subway station was damaged by seawater flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Crews are working to restore the station by pumping out the water.



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/3/12



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/3/12



Fri. November 2, 2012



South Ferry and Whitehall St Station Condition and Pumping Operations
Metropolitan Transportation Authority
via YouTube
11/2/12



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/2/12

Flood water in the Cranberry Street Tunnel, which carries the A and C trains between Brooklyn and Manhattan underneath the East River.

This photo was taken after the MTA had started pumping out this tunnel.  The high water line is visible on the tunnel walls.  (its about level with the photographers camera.) 



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/2/12

New York City Transit's Pump Train at work in the Cranberry Street Tunnel.



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
11/2/12

The view from the front of the Pump Train, inside the Cranberry Tube, at about 4:30 p.m.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/2/12

New York City Transit employees at Dyckman Street pumped water out of Upper Manhattan's section of the A Line. (Note the rust on the rails).



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/2/12



MTA Metro-North Railroad
11/2/12

A signal location that was flooded with saltwater.



Thu. November 1, 2012



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/1/12

On November 1, 2012, subway tunnels under the East River remained out of service after they were flooded during Hurricane Sandy. As a temporary means to allow people across the East River, 330 shuttle buses connected subway and LIRR customers at Barclays Center, MetroTech, and Hewes St. with destinations in Manhattan.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority
11/1/12

Salt water damage to signals on Metro-North's Hudson Line.



Wed. October 31, 2012



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/31/12

Employees from MTA Bridges and Tunnels pumping 43 million gallons of water out of each of the tubes of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel).



MTA Metro-North Railroad
10/31/12

A downed signal on the Hudson line.



Tue. October 30, 2012



Metropolitan Transportation Authority
10/30/12

Flood waters in the South Ferry station. Damage to the MTA New York City Transit system in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/30/12

The South Ferry subway station after it was flooded by seawater.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority
10/30/12

A boat sitting on Metro-North's tracks near the Ossining, NY Station.



MTA Metro-North Railroad / Al Cecere
10/30/12

Removal of the boat.



MTA Metro-North Railroad / Al Cecere
10/30/12



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
11/30/12

A view of the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel (formerly known as the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel). The tunnel flooded during Hurricane Sandy.



Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin
10/30/12

Debris litters the tracks near Metro-North's Irvington, NY station in Sandy's aftermath.



MTA New York City Transit / Leonard Wiggins
10/30/12

Damage on the New York City Subway's Rockaway Line (A train).



Metropolitan Transportation Authority
10/30/12

The MTA Staten Island Railway Clifton Shop, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.




Hurricane Sandy Recovery
105 images

Hurricane Sandy - November 2-4, 2012
67 images

Hurricane Sandy - November 1, 2012
28 images

Hurricane Sandy - October 31, 2012
57 images

Hurricane Sandy - October. 30, 2012
41 images