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Crews lifted 190,000-pound bridge sections in East Harlem and attached them to the newly installed support structure below.
Then they quickly connected the track and other systems to the rest the viaduct that crosses Park Avenue. The effort marked the completion of the first phase of the $590 million superstructure, earlier and cheaper than originally planned.
“Today’s milestone demonstrates the transformative work we can do in New York when we do invest in trafficNew York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a press release. “Completing work on an elevated structure that dates back to the Gilded Age ahead of schedule and under budget shows what’s possible when we modernize our infrastructure and put riders first.”
The work was part of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s overhaul of the 132-year-old Park Avenue Viaduct, over which New York City’s Metro North trains have ruminated for decades. The replacement of the bridge marks the completion of the superstructure for phase 1 of the project51 months ahead of schedule and $93 million under budget, according to an Oct. 6 release.
Halmar International, the project’s design-build contractor, replaced 8,240 feet of aging track across 128 bridge facilities, while keeping Metro-North service running. Using a custom-made gantry system spanning Park Avenue, crews replaced precast bridge sections over 19 weekends beginning in June 2024. The method allowed workers to lift deteriorated steel and concrete deck segments and install new sections without stopping service on the other side of the structure.
That approach emerged during the design-build contracting phase between the MTA and the general contractor in Nanuet, New York, according to the release. By allowing the contractor to propose construction techniques, the project eliminated the need for long-term shutdowns and accelerated multiple phases simultaneously. Phase 2, which stretches from East 127th Street to East 132nd Street, began in May 2024.
The $590 million first phase, of which $500.9 million came from federal funds, replaced the entire substructure and superstructure of the viaduct between East 115th and East 123rd streets and installed new track, power, communications and signal systems, according to the release.
The elevated structure carries four Metro-Nord tracks and 98% of the railway’s trains each day. The viaduct connects travelers from Bronx, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties, as well as Connecticut, to Grand Central Terminal. The project is part of the Grand Central Artery, which also includes the Terminal Train Shed and the Park Avenue Tunnel, all of which are more than 100 years old.
While all of the Phase 1 structure is now complete, additional work on the systems and track level will continue through the winter, according to the release. MTA expects Phase 1 to reach substantial completion in April 2026 and Phase 2 to end in September 2027.
