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Over a year of weekend closures ahead for 2, 3 trains – Metro US

Over a year of weekend closures ahead for 2, 3 trains

Over a year of weekend closures ahead for 2, 3 trains
MTA/Flickr

The MTA 2, 3 lines will be closed on weekends for more than a year starting this spring to allow construction workers to finish repairs from Sandy-related damage.

The subway tunnel that carries the lines between Manhattan and Brooklyn under the East River will undergo weekend closures in both directions to fix integral structural components, the MTA said in a statement Friday.

To facilitate reconstruction of the Clark Street Tube, service will be able to operate when construction activity is underway. This will result in temporary, long-term schedule and route adjustments on weekends on the 2,3,4, and 5 lines.

The 1.2 mile-long tunnel, known as the Clark St Tube, was one of nine MTA New York City Transit subway tunnels flooded and damaged by an unprecedented storm surge during Sandy in October 2012. More than half a million gallons of corrosive salt water flooded the tunnel, damaging tracks, signals, pumping equipment, and electrical and switching equipment. Although temporary repairs immediately after the storm enabled a safe return to service, extensive reconstruction is required to ensure that line operations remain safe and viable.

This critical work can be performed over 56 weekends and therefore will not affect regular weekday daytime service.

“The Clark St project is the next phase in what is the most extensive reconstruction and fortification effort in the history of the New York City subway system,” said NYC Transit President Ronnie Hakim. “This effort is well underway and we continue to face the challenge of performing these vital tasks as quickly and effectively as possible while minimizing the impact on our customers’ commutes. We also aim to minimize the duration of the project and avoid customer confusion by providing the same service every weekend, when possible, throughout the entire project.”

Line 2trains will be rerouted via the1 line south of Chambers Street and will terminate at South Ferry. Because of capacity constraints at South Ferry, the 3 trains will terminate at 14th Street.

There will be 2 or 3 line subway service available at the Park Place, Fulton St, Wall St, Clark St, Borough Hall, and Hoyt St stations in Manhattan and Brooklyn on weekends. However, service on other lines will be available at stations that are a short walk from the affected stations.

To provide alternate service in Brooklyn on weekends, 4 train service will be extended from Crown Heights-Utica Ave. to New Lots Av. to replace the3. Service on the 5 train will be extended from Bowling Green to Flatbush Av-Brooklyn College to replace the2. Both the 4 and 5 lines will operate as local service south of Nevins St.