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Hello. We made lots of progress this week. The newly rebuilt stairs at Bedford Av (Driggs Avenue side) are reopened as of yesterday. And we have a lot of work on tap for this weekend—don't forget, no L service from 8 Av to Broadway Junction while we work (until Monday at 5 a.m.). If you missed it last week, use this guide and this map to get around with our alternatives.

Read on for what we're doing in the tubes and stations this weekend; Reminder about upcoming service changes at some Brooklyn L stations; And what Union Square customers will see starting Monday. Have a fantastic weekend. 
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A crew member inspects the cabling for the new tunnel lighting we're installing in the L tunnel. This is one of the ongoing projects we're progressing this weekend.

Photo: Trent Reeves / MTA Capital Construction / September 9, 2019

No L service this weekend (between 8 Av and Broadway Junction). What's actually getting done?

As you smart L Project Weekly readers already know, there's no L service this weekend between 8 Av in Manhattan and Broadway Junction. We're starting accessibility and capacity projects at 14 St-6 Av (elevators!) and Union Square (escalator!). But as they say—"but wait, there's more!" That's right, we coordinated across all of our teams to really maximize our time in tube and stations.

Some numbers:
  • We have 14 different teams coordinating to work at the same time
  • There will be 21 work trains in total used to get materials in and out
  • 9 stations are getting work done
And here are the highlights of the 13 primary projects we're progressing:
  1. New Union Square escalator: demolishing the platform floor to create the pit
  2. 14 St-6 Av Station accessibility initiative: planning and surveying platform space and edges
  3. Upgraded platform components at 4 Brooklyn stations: replacing platform edges and installing new tiles to maintain ADA-compliance
  4. New substations at Maspeth Avenue and Harrison Place: installing new 2000KCML cables to connect the substations to the track so we'll be able to run more trains
  5. Vent control replacement: installing new fiber-optic cable from 1 Av to 8 Av
  6. Track work at Wilson Av: replace old tracks and ties at this station area
  7. Track cleaning and maintenance: replacing an old switch at 8 Av and cleaning the track from 1 Av to 8 Av
  8. Power-washing tile at Bedford Av and installing final trackwall tiles there
  9. Continue installing FRP in two places in the tube
  10. Pulling and strapping fiber-optic cable in two locations
  11. Continue conduit work at 1 Av: installing crossover communication and fare machine conduits
  12. Continue new tunnel lighting work: installing brackets, straps, boxes and connecting to power near Avenue D
  13. Continue work on new discharge line: installing and insulating the new discharge line and pressure testing it from the pump room
More info about our L Project construction

Rebuilt Bedford Av platform stairs are now open

On the Driggs Avenue side of the platform, we've been working on a project to increase stair capacity by 50 percent. We still have to do the finishes, but in the meantime, both of the stairs are open!

As of yesterday (9/13/19), we opened what was the original stair there. We had fully demolished and rebuilt it, all while keeping service open for you. 

Why were there random service changes on the L on Friday and during a few days this week?

Glad you asked. Because in fact, they weren't random at all. 

If you're a long-time L Project Weekly reader, you've probably noticed just how much cable work we're doing every week. (Photographic evidence here.)

We've been replacing cables, including negative return cables in the first tube we're working on as part of the project. It's in our plan to replace the same negative return cables in the other tube (Brooklyn-bound), once we finish construction in the first one, but unfortunately the negative return cables had an issue this week.

We're still investigating the original cause of the problem. In the meantime, here are some answers to your savvy questions you asked us:

What's a negative return cable and does it have anything to do with the infrastructure of the tube?
These cables are part of our traction power system, i.e. how we bring power to the trains. It works like this: substations supply voltage via positive cables to the third rail. Then the power returns through one of the running rails (AKA the negative rail) to the negative return cables. So no, these cables don't have to do with the tube; they're everywhere in our system—anywhere we have a moving train!

What did you do to fix it?
There were 12 total negative return cables in the area with the issue. While we worked to replace 8 of the cables, we were able to continue L service by single-tracking it (using all of our experience from the past several weeknights and weeknights), instead of fully holding all L service. We then went back with just reduced L service to fix a power connection point. 

We know any unplanned service changes are not fun. But if you only use the L train during peak times, you probably don't even know what we're talking about. That's because we pushed to get the work done before the rush times hit. 

Are you using this weekend to put a permanent fix in?
Yes and no. We'll be replacing the 4 remaining cables in that area out of caution. And to be even more super cautious, we're installing an additional 4 cables as a backup, for a total of 16 negative return cables.

This fix is expected to work until we get to the construction in the second tube. At that time, we'll fully replace all of the negative return cables and connections in the tube. That will be the more permanent fix.

Watch your step at Union Square: Barricade for new escalator means a busier platform

As you know, we're using this weekend to dig a pit on the L platform at Union Square for the new escalator. And since we care about you, we have to build a big blue barricade around it. 

Come Monday when service is back, remember to use a little extra caution on the L platform. No texting/emailing while walking, please.

Reminder: Upcoming weeknight and weekend L service changes in Brooklyn

Brooklyn customers: reminder that the weeknight and weekend work at select stations is starting up again. We're going to advance the work this weekend, too, and will keep you posted if this allows us to cut back any of the outages further ahead.

Mark your calendars if you haven't already, and click the button below for the full details.

Weeknights
Mon., September 23 to Fri., September 27
Mon., September 30 to Fri., October 4
~11:30 (depending on your station's last train time) to 5 a.m.

No L overnight between Lorimer St and Broadway Junction

Weekends
Fri., September 27 to Sun., September 29
Fri., October 4 to Sun., October 6
Fri., January 3 to Sun., January 5
Fri., January 10 to Sun., January 12
Fri., January 17 to Sun., January 19
Fri., January 24 to Sun., January 26
~11:30 (depending on your station's last train time) on Friday to 5 a.m. on Monday

No L service between Lorimer St and Broadway Junction
Plan ahead with the full details

Weekend event planner: Smorgasburg and Taste of Williamsburg at East River State Park

Heading to East River State Park in Williamsburg this weekend to check out one of these events? We made a special travel guide to help get you there. 

Click the map above for a bigger version, or the button below to plan your trip using one or more of our alternative service options.
Get to East River State Park this weekend

Glamour shot of the week: 1 Av Station, but make it brighter

New lighting and new tiles are up on the Manhattan-bound side of 1 Av Station. We'll go back towards the end of the work here to (carefully) power-wash the mosaic tiles.

Photos: Trent Reeves / MTA Capital Construction / September 9, 2019

Construction look-ahead: Week of 9/14/19

See above.

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