The MTA will begin work on the rehabilitation of the Rutger Tube, which carries the F subway line under the East River, on Monday, September 14.
The tube is the eleventh and final MTA tunnel under a major body of water to be rebuilt as a result of damage sustained during Superstorm Sandy.
“Once complete, we will have rehabilitated every tunnel damaged during Sandy, further fortifying the system against future natural disasters,” Interim Transit President Sarah Feinberg said. “We’re working to make sure this work leads to as few disruptions as possible for our customers and look forward to getting this vital project underway in the weeks ahead.”
On nights and weekends for the next three weeks — as well as for one week each in October and November — there will be no train service at the East Broadway or York Street stations between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. The World Trade Center E station will also be closed to customers.
Free shuttle bus service to nearby subway stations will be provided at East Broadway and York St, while other alternate routes are being posted at stations, and online at the MTA website, the MYmta app and on social media.
The MTA will be replacing track, signal equipment, power and communication cables, fan plant equipment, tunnel lighting and pumps. They'll be improving the pumping system by relocating the pump controls outside of the flood zone and providing a backup generator connection. During Sandy the tunnel was flooded with more than 1.5 million gallons of water.
To take advantage of these diversions of service for this project, it also includes structural repairs and platform accessibility work at the East Broadway station, as well as cellular service within the tube.