East Side Access Project

East Side Access Project, Load Transfer and Structural Re-Framing at Wellways 1, 2, 3 and 4 for New Escalator Shafts

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The MTA’s ambitious project to bring Long Island Rail Road trains into the Grand Central Station terminal via the East Side Access Project was spurred by a study that showed that more than half of LIRR riders work closer to Grand Central than to Penn Station. This project involves the excavation of a new bi-level, eight-track tunnel under Park Avenue, more than 90 feet (27 m) below the Metro-North track and more than 140 feet (43 m) below the surface. Reaching the street from the lowest level, more than 175 feet (53 m) deep, will take about 10 minutes. LIRR trains will access Park Avenue via the existing lower level of the 63rd Street Tunnel, connecting to its main line running through Sunnyside Yard in Queens. Extensions are being added on both the Manhattan and Queens sides.

SJH developed and executed detailed monitoring plans and sequence of operations for jacking, load transfer, steel members and reframing to provide access room for escalator shaft wellways at 45th Street (Wellway 1), 46th Street (Wellway 2), 47th Street (Wellway 3), and 48th Street (Wellway 4). SJH performed field monitoring of Load Transfer operations, and functioned as the onsite Professional Engineer for the GC.