Astoria Construction

[R160]

When I got off the train at 30th Avenue and walked home, I saw the MTA had a bunch of tracks on the ground level. They've been doing construction on the Manhattan-bound side for weeks so I don't see why they need to replace the track...

 

Explanations?

[Brighton Local]

If there are track panels staged at street level, then count on it, that 1 of the 3 tracks is being reconstructed.

[Amtrak7]

Quoting Second Ave Sagas, who quoted some news source:

 

MTA NYC Transit announces two major projects slated for Astoria in 2011 that will affect several weekend and some weekday schedules during off-peak hours. The first project is track panel installation at 36th Avenue. This work is scheduled for the following weekends: February 12-13, 19-20, 26-27, March 5-6, 12-13, August 13-14, 20-21, 27-28, September 3-4, 10-11, 17-18 and 24-25. On these weekends, the Manhattan-bound N train will operate as an express from Astoria Boulevard to Queensboro Plaza bypassing 30th Avenue, Broadway, 36th Avenue and 39th Avenue from 4 a.m. Saturday to 10 p.m. Sunday. The work entails the replacement of thirty-nine-foot sections of elevated track including ties, running rails, third rail and walkways – all part of NYCT’s In-house Capital Construction Program.

Work will also go on during the week on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from February 2 to March 18. On those weekdays, Manhattan-bound N trains will run express from Astoria Boulevard to Queensboro Plaza and Q trains will terminate at 57th Street-7th Avenue. Manhattan-bound customers should plan for additional travel time as these service changes may add up to 15 minutes to their trip. Customers at the bypassed stations may backride to Astoria Boulevard for Manhattan-bound service or consider taking the R at Steinway or 36th Streets, the F at 21st Street-Queensbridge or walking to Queensboro Plaza.

The second project is structure painting from 40th Avenue to the 60th Street Tunnel portal west of 21st Street which is planned for some weekends in May, June, July and one weekend in October to be announced at a later date. The work will run through the entire weekend from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday.

Finally, during one minor project, on the weekend of March 19-21, there is no N service between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square. Customers must use the 7 line for service into and out of Manhattan. This is due to track maintenance work at 57th Street and in the 60th Street tube.