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NEW YORK — Photos recently released by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York show a massive undertaking: the building of the Second Avenue Subway under the streets of New York.
The line is the first to be constructed in New York City since 1932. The $4.5 billion project began in 2007 after 90 years of planning and delays.
The project "will improve access to mass transit and reduce overcrowding and commuter delays on the east side of Manhattan," according to the MTA.
The massive project started with the excavation of new tunnels eight stories — 80 feet — beneath Manhattan's Upper East Side. Construction workers then brought down and assembled a 485-ton, 450-foot-long tunnel boring machine to drill through the bedrock.
"I think when you're down there for all of 10 seconds, you know that this is a dangerous place to be," said Patrick Cashin, the project's photographer. "When the boring machine is on and cutting, it's loud and extremely dusty. I understand there's about 800 workers spread out all over the project. Each are drilling, paving, moving rocks — everyone's constantly in motion."
The Second Avenue station is 110 feet high and 75 feet wide. Access shafts at 69th and 72nd streets are also being built.
Phase one of the project, which will run from 96th Street to 63rd Street, is scheduled to open in December of 2016. There are thus far no funding commitments for the remaining three phases, which will ultimately run from 125th street to Hanover Square.
