F train service changes coming next year as work on the city’s last Sandy-damaged tunnel begins

With L train repairs finally winding down in the Canarsie Tube, the MTA will soon shift its attention to the Rutgers Tube, the last of nine subway tunnels to be renovated after Superstorm Sandy took its toll on the structure nearly eight years ago. As THE CITY reported, the repairs will impact the F line this time around but won’t be anywhere near as disruptive as the L train shutdown-turned-partial-slowdown.

The mile-long Rutgers Tube runs between the East Broadway station in Manhattan and the York Street station in Brooklyn. It was hit with 1.5 million gallons of saltwater during Sandy (by comparison, the Canarsie Tube was impacted by seven million gallons) and was closed for seven days following the storm. It was saved for last because, relative to the other Sandy-ravaged tunnels, the damage wasn’t as bad.

The planned work will take place on nights and weekends, during which time the East Broadway and York Street stations will both be closed and service will be re-routed via the A/C. “The F can run over other lines, so customers will only be impacted at two stations on nights and weekends,” Tim Mulligan, deputy chief development officer of MTA Construction & Development, told THE CITY.

According to a request for proposals put out by the MTA this week, the federally funded project will cost between $50 and $100 million and consist of extensive work to the tunnel’s communication, power, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems as well as track and signal work. The tunnel will also get upgraded with cellular and Wi-Fi service. The contract will be awarded later this year and the work is expected to take 14 months.

[Via THE CITY]

RELATED:

• MTA moves ahead with plans to buy up to 949 new subway cars with open gangway design
• 50-year-old R-42 subway cars are finally being retired
• MTA looks to ride-share services to help late-shift workers in the outer boroughs