63rd Street Tunnel: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 40°45′36″N 73°57′18″W / 40.76000°N 73.95500°W / 40.76000; -73.95500
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Restore history that was deleted in September and correct account of completion in lede, ce
Line 21: Line 21:
}}
}}


The '''63rd Street Tunnel''' in [[New York City]] is a bi-level rail tunnel under the [[East River]] between [[Manhattan]] and [[Queens]], passing through [[Roosevelt Island]]. It is the newest river crossing in the [[New York metropolitan area]]. Construction of the 63rd Street Tunnel began on November 24, 1969. The first section, from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island was completed on October 10, 1972.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor and Governor Unite to Start Transit Tube |first=Edward C. |last=Burks |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10910F63E591A7493C7AB178AD95F4D8685F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 25, 1969 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Governor Rockefeller and Mayor Lindsay Attend 'Holing Through' of 63d St. Tunnel |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A12FF3E591A7493C3A8178BD95F468785F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1972 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref> The second section, extending to Queens, was completed in 1989, with a connector to the [[IND Queens Boulevard Line]] completed by 2000. Completion of the tunnel was delayed by [[History_of_New_York_City_(1946–1977)#1970s|New York City's fiscal crisis of the 1970s]].
The '''63rd Street Tunnel''' carries the [[63rd Street Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]] under the [[East River]] between the [[borough (New York City)|borough]]s of [[Manhattan]] and [[Queens]]. It is the newest of the [[East River]] tunnels, and the newest river crossing in the [[New York metropolitan area]]. Construction of the 63rd Street Tunnel began on November 24, 1969, and the tunnel was holed through beneath [[Roosevelt Island]] on October 10, 1972.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mayor and Governor Unite to Start Transit Tube |first=Edward C. |last=Burks |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10910F63E591A7493C7AB178AD95F4D8685F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 25, 1969 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref><ref name=holethru>{{cite news |title=Governor Rockefeller and Mayor Lindsay Attend 'Holing Through' of 63d St. Tunnel |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0A12FF3E591A7493C3A8178BD95F468785F9 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 11, 1972 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref> However, completion of the tunnel and its connections was delayed by [[History_of_New_York_City_(1946–1977)#1970s|New York City's fiscal crisis of the 1970s]] and it was not used revenue service until 1989.


The tunnel currently carries the [[63rd Street Line]] of the [[New York City Subway]] and will carry [[Long Island Rail Road]] trains following completion of the [[East Side Access]] project.
The tunnel's lower level will carry [[Long Island Rail Road]] trains following the expected completion of the [[East Side Access]] project in late-2022,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/pdf/151214_0930_LIRR.pdf#page=17|title = Long Island Committee Meeting December 2015|date = December 14, 2015|access-date = February 17, 2016|website = mta.info|publisher = Metropolitan Transportation Authority|last = |first = }}</ref> a half-century after the hole through.

==History==
{{main|63rd Street Lines}}
The tunnel was first placed into partial service in 1989 and was nicknamed the "tunnel to nowhere" due to its lack of connections in Queens.<ref name="nyt-1989-10-29">{{cite news |last=Lorch |first=Donatella |title=The 'Subway to Nowhere' Now Goes Somewhere |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 29, 1989 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/nyregion/the-subway-to-nowhere-now-goes-somewhere.html |accessdate=July 25, 2009}}</ref><ref name="lip-2011-04-21">{{cite news |title=Tunnel Vision: Inside the East Side Access Project |first=Spencer |last=Rumsey |url=http://www.longislandpress.com/2011/04/21/inside-the-east-side-access-project/ |newspaper=Long Island Press |date=April 21, 2011 |accessdate=October 16, 2011}}</ref> The final section of the 63rd Street Tunnel, which cost $645 million to complete and connects what had been a service dead-ending at the [[21st Street – Queensbridge (IND 63rd Street Line)|21st Street]] station in [[Queensbridge, Queens|Queensbridge]] to the [[IND Queens Boulevard Line]], was finished in 2000. It was first used by trains during off-peak hours while signal work was performed in the [[53rd Street Tunnel]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Another Tunnel Offers Breathing Room for E and F Trains |first=Susan |last=Saulny |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/28/nyregion/another-tunnel-offers-breathing-room-for-e-and-f-trains.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 28, 2000 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Subway Line To Start |first=Randy |last=Kennedy |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/28/nyregion/metro-briefing-new-york-manhattan-new-subway-line-to-start.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 28, 2001 |accessdate=February 13, 2010}}</ref> The tunnel connection was placed into permanent service with the start of [[V (New York City Subway service)|V]] train and the shifting of the route of the [[F (New York City Subway service)|F]] train on December 17, 2001.<ref>{{cite news |title=V Train Begins Service Today, Giving Queens Commuters Another Option |first=Sarah |last=Kershaw |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/17/nyregion/v-train-begins-service-today-giving-queens-commuters-another-option.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 17, 2001 |accessdate=February 13, 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100325003759/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/17/nyregion/v-train-begins-service-today-giving-queens-commuters-another-option.html| archivedate= March 25, 2010| deadurl= no}}</ref>


==Construction method==
==Construction method==
Unlike previous tunnels that were bored under the riverbed, the 63rd Street Tunnel's river portions used the [[immersed tube]] method. Trenches were dug in the river bed, and four {{convert|375|ft|m|adj=on}} long prefabricated concrete sections of tunnel fabricated in [[Port Deposit, Maryland]] were floated into position and then sunk into the trenches.<ref name="ita-aites">{{cite web |title=63rd Street Tunnel |url=http://www.ita-aites.org/fileadmin/filemounts/general/pdf/ItaAssociation/ProductAndPublication/WorkingGroupsPublication/WG11/TransportationsTunnels/T44.pdf |work=International Tunneling and Underground Space Association |format=PDF |accessdate=October 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cudahy |first=Brian J. |title=Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World |year=1979 |publisher=S. Greene Press |location=Brattleboro, VT |isbn=0-8289-0352-2 |page=145}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Munfah |first=Nasri A. |last2=Tarhan |first2=Yalcin M. |title=Immersed Tunnel Techniques: Proceedings of the Conference Organized by the Institution of Civil Engineers |year=1990 |publisher=Thomas Telford |location=London |isbn=0-7277-1512-7 |page=327 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMpy__P1j4IC&lpg=PA327&pg=PA327 |accessdate=October 16, 2011}}</ref> Other portions of the tunnel were built using cut-and-cover construction or rock tunneling. The tunnel also contains the [[Roosevelt Island (IND 63rd Street Line)|Roosevelt Island]] station.
Unlike previous tunnels that were bored under the riverbed, the 63rd Street Tunnel's river portions used the [[immersed tube]] method. Trenches were dug in the river bed, and four {{convert|375|ft|m|adj=on}} long prefabricated concrete sections of tunnel fabricated in [[Port Deposit, Maryland]] were floated into position and then sunk into the trenches.<ref name="ita-aites">{{cite web |title=63rd Street Tunnel |url=http://www.ita-aites.org/fileadmin/filemounts/general/pdf/ItaAssociation/ProductAndPublication/WorkingGroupsPublication/WG11/TransportationsTunnels/T44.pdf |work=International Tunneling and Underground Space Association |format=PDF |accessdate=October 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Cudahy |first=Brian J. |title=Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World |year=1979 |publisher=S. Greene Press |location=Brattleboro, VT |isbn=0-8289-0352-2 |page=145}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Munfah |first=Nasri A. |last2=Tarhan |first2=Yalcin M. |title=Immersed Tunnel Techniques: Proceedings of the Conference Organized by the Institution of Civil Engineers |year=1990 |publisher=Thomas Telford |location=London |isbn=0-7277-1512-7 |page=327 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zMpy__P1j4IC&lpg=PA327&pg=PA327 |accessdate=October 16, 2011}}</ref> Two tubes each were placed on either side or Roosevelt Island.<ref name=holethru /> Other portions of the tunnel were built using cut-and-cover construction or rock tunneling. The tunnel also contains the [[Roosevelt Island (IND 63rd Street Line)|Roosevelt Island]] station.


==Usage==
==Usage==
Line 35: Line 39:


===Lower level===
===Lower level===
The two trackways on the lower level are currently unused by trains, but are planned for use by the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[East Side Access]] project, which will bring LIRR commuter trains to [[Grand Central Terminal]] between 2019 and 2023. During construction of the East Side Access project, the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel is being used to transport equipment; excavated rock from Manhattan is also hauled out to [[Sunnyside Yard]] on a {{convert|5|mi|km|adj=on}} long [[conveyor belt]].<ref name="lip-2011-04-21"/>
The two trackways on the lower level are currently unused by passenger trains, but are planned for use by the [[Long Island Rail Road]]'s [[East Side Access]] project, which will bring LIRR commuter trains to [[Grand Central Terminal]]. During construction of the East Side Access project, the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel is being used to transport equipment; excavated rock from Manhattan is also hauled out to [[Sunnyside Yard]] on a {{convert|5|mi|km|adj=on}} long [[conveyor belt]].<ref name="lip-2011-04-21"/>


==Awards==
==Awards==

Revision as of 18:10, 24 January 2017

For the subway line that uses this tunnel to travel under the East River, see 63rd Street Lines.
63rd Street Tunnel
The 63rd Street Tunnel, in the context of the East Side Access project
Overview
Line63rd Street Line (F and <F> train)
LocationEast River between Manhattan and Queens, New York City
Coordinates40°45′36″N 73°57′18″W / 40.76000°N 73.95500°W / 40.76000; -73.95500
SystemNew York City Subway
LIRR (future)
Operation
OpenedOctober 29, 1989; 34 years ago (1989-10-29)
OperatorMetropolitan Transportation Authority
Technical
Length3,140 feet (960 m) between shafts[1]
No. of tracks2
Width38.5 feet (11.7 m)[1][2]

The 63rd Street Tunnel carries the 63rd Street Line of the New York City Subway under the East River between the boroughs of Manhattan and Queens. It is the newest of the East River tunnels, and the newest river crossing in the New York metropolitan area. Construction of the 63rd Street Tunnel began on November 24, 1969, and the tunnel was holed through beneath Roosevelt Island on October 10, 1972.[3][4] However, completion of the tunnel and its connections was delayed by New York City's fiscal crisis of the 1970s and it was not used revenue service until 1989.

The tunnel's lower level will carry Long Island Rail Road trains following the expected completion of the East Side Access project in late-2022,[5] a half-century after the hole through.

History

Main article: 63rd Street Lines

The tunnel was first placed into partial service in 1989 and was nicknamed the "tunnel to nowhere" due to its lack of connections in Queens.[6][7] The final section of the 63rd Street Tunnel, which cost $645 million to complete and connects what had been a service dead-ending at the 21st Street station in Queensbridge to the IND Queens Boulevard Line, was finished in 2000. It was first used by trains during off-peak hours while signal work was performed in the 53rd Street Tunnel.[8][9] The tunnel connection was placed into permanent service with the start of V train and the shifting of the route of the F train on December 17, 2001.[10]

Construction method

Unlike previous tunnels that were bored under the riverbed, the 63rd Street Tunnel's river portions used the immersed tube method. Trenches were dug in the river bed, and four 375-foot (114 m) long prefabricated concrete sections of tunnel fabricated in Port Deposit, Maryland were floated into position and then sunk into the trenches.[2][11][12] Two tubes each were placed on either side or Roosevelt Island.[4] Other portions of the tunnel were built using cut-and-cover construction or rock tunneling. The tunnel also contains the Roosevelt Island station.

Usage

The tunnel has two levels. The F and <F> train uses the two tracks on the upper level, connecting the IND Queens Boulevard Line in Queens to the IND Sixth Avenue Line in Manhattan via the IND 63rd Street Line. There are also track connections to and from the BMT 63rd Street Line, west of the Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street station.

Upper level

The tunnel was placed into partial service in 1989 and was nicknamed the "tunnel to nowhere" due to its lack of connections in Queens.[6][7] The final section of the 63rd Street Tunnel, which cost $645 million to complete and connects what had been a service dead-ending at the 21st Street station in Queensbridge to the IND Queens Boulevard Line, was finished in 2000. It was first used by trains during off-peak hours while signal work was performed in the 53rd Street Tunnel.[13][14] The tunnel connection was placed into permanent service with the start of V service and the rerouting of the F service on December 17, 2001.[15]

Lower level

The two trackways on the lower level are currently unused by passenger trains, but are planned for use by the Long Island Rail Road's East Side Access project, which will bring LIRR commuter trains to Grand Central Terminal. During construction of the East Side Access project, the lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel is being used to transport equipment; excavated rock from Manhattan is also hauled out to Sunnyside Yard on a 5-mile (8.0 km) long conveyor belt.[7]

Awards

The 63rd Street Tunnel and the 63rd Street Tunnel Connector received the Construction Achievement Project of the Year Award from the Metropolitan Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1973 and 2000, respectively.[16]

The 63rd Street Tunnel Connector was also selected as the Transit Project of the Year in 1999 by New York Construction News.[17]

  • Vents
  • Tunnel vents in Central Park
    Tunnel vents in Central Park
  • 63rd St Ventilating Tower, East of Second Ave
    63rd St Ventilating Tower, East of Second Ave
  • Ventilation structure on Roosevelt Island
    Ventilation structure on Roosevelt Island
  • Ventilator and emergency exit in Queensbridge park
    Ventilator and emergency exit in Queensbridge park

References

  1. ^ a b Guide to Civil Engineering Projects In and Around New York City (2nd ed.). Metropolitan Section, American Society of Civil Engineers. 2009. pp. 62–63.
  2. ^ a b "63rd Street Tunnel" (PDF). International Tunneling and Underground Space Association. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  3. ^ Burks, Edward C. (November 25, 1969). "Mayor and Governor Unite to Start Transit Tube". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b "Governor Rockefeller and Mayor Lindsay Attend 'Holing Through' of 63d St. Tunnel". The New York Times. October 11, 1972. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  5. ^ "Long Island Committee Meeting December 2015" (PDF). mta.info. Metropolitan Transportation Authority. December 14, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Lorch, Donatella (October 29, 1989). "The 'Subway to Nowhere' Now Goes Somewhere". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2009.
  7. ^ a b c Rumsey, Spencer (April 21, 2011). "Tunnel Vision: Inside the East Side Access Project". Long Island Press. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  8. ^ Saulny, Susan (November 28, 2000). "Another Tunnel Offers Breathing Room for E and F Trains". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  9. ^ Kennedy, Randy (November 28, 2001). "New Subway Line To Start". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  10. ^ Kershaw, Sarah (December 17, 2001). "V Train Begins Service Today, Giving Queens Commuters Another Option". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Cudahy, Brian J. (1979). Under the Sidewalks of New York: The Story of the Greatest Subway System in the World. Brattleboro, VT: S. Greene Press. p. 145. ISBN 0-8289-0352-2.
  12. ^ Munfah, Nasri A.; Tarhan, Yalcin M. (1990). Immersed Tunnel Techniques: Proceedings of the Conference Organized by the Institution of Civil Engineers. London: Thomas Telford. p. 327. ISBN 0-7277-1512-7. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
  13. ^ Saulny, Susan (November 28, 2000). "Another Tunnel Offers Breathing Room for E and F Trains". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  14. ^ Kennedy, Randy (November 28, 2001). "New Subway Line To Start". The New York Times. Retrieved February 13, 2010.
  15. ^ Kershaw, Sarah (December 17, 2001). "V Train Begins Service Today, Giving Queens Commuters Another Option". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Construction Achievement Project of the Year Award". ASCE Metropolitan Section. Retrieved October 10, 2016.
  17. ^ "Transit Project of the Year" (PDF). New York Construction News. December 1999. p. 47. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=63rd_Street_Tunnel&oldid=761764013"