The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has announced completion of all blasting for the 72nd Street Station Structures for Phase I of the $4.45 billion Second Avenue Subway project in New York.
The blasting work for the 72nd Street underground cavern commenced in January 2011 and was completed on 28 February 2013. According to MTA, nearly 500 workers have worked on the excavation work per day and have excavated and removed a total of 183,000 cubic yards of rock.
The work was carried out by SSK Constructors, a joint venture between Schiavone, Shea and Kiewit. The joint venture will continue to waterproof and install the steel reinforced concrete lining of the underground station cavern and tunnels.
The removal of the muck house at 72nd Street will be undertaken in the first quarter of 2013, upon which follow-on finishing work will be undertaken that will complete the mezzanine and platforms, station entrances, ancillary buildings and the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for the station. The contract for the follow-on fnishing work has been awarded to Judlau Contracting.
The project will extend the Q Line along Second Avenue. The subway line will have new stations at 72nd Street, 86th Street and 96th Street and is expected to open for service in December 2016.