WATCH: MTA Replaces Segment of Park Avenue Viaduct

Over the weekend of June 8, 2024 and June 9, 2024, the MTA replaced the first section of the Park Avenue Viaduct, originally built in 1890s, marking a key milestone in this critical infrastructure project to rehabilitate the structure that carries approx. 750 Metro-North trains into and out of Grand Central Terminal.

Courtesy of Trent Reeves via MTA

NEW YORK CITY – The MTA has replaced the first section of the Park Avenue Viaduct. This work was completed without disrupting service.

The Park Avenue Viaduct is a 130-year-old steel structure that carries four Metro-North tracks and serves all trains traveling in and out of Grand Central Terminal. This work allows the infrastructure to remain in a state of good repair and to keep service going. The video below, from MTA on YouTube, shows a time lapse of the work.

MTA reports the work that took place over a weekend utilized “two gantry systems which extend over the viaduct to remove and replace the existing concrete and steel bridge deck with new prefabricated bridge units, weighing around 190,000 pounds each.”

Phase 1 of the project, which continues through 2026, extends from East 115^th Street to East 123^rd Street along Park Avenue. The work includes replacing the existing steel structure, new tracks, as well as power, communications, and signal systems. In September 2023, work began to replace the viaduct’s foundation and columns. MTA reports the first round of work is part of an allocated $590 million for the first phase of the project, “of which $500.9 million is federally funded.”

MTA Construction & Development President Jamie Torres-Springer said, “The seamless replacement of the first segment of the Park Avenue Viaduct is a great example of the innovative approach we take to delivering critical projects better, faster, and cheaper . . . Innovation, along with strong project management, will help us to deliver this mega project on time and on budget with little to no impacts to service.”

“All Metro-North trains to and from Grand Central Terminal pass over the Park Avenue Viaduct, which is more than 130 years old,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi. “Replacement of this structure is a priority state of good repair project that is critical to our ability to provide safe and reliable service.  We are thrilled that this project is underway, and we will continue to work closely with MTA Construction & Development to minimize impacts to our service.”