The MTA has completed work to replace the Glen Cove Road bridge in Carle Place.
Crews worked over the weekend to replace the 78-year-old structure, which carried the Long Island Rail Road over Glen Cove Road, with a new three-bay structure to allow for a third track.
This was the sixth of seven bridges to be replaced or improved as part of the LIRR third track expansion project, which aims to improve the flexibility of the Main Line by adding an additional track between Floral Park and Hicksville.
“The Third Track project is a model of the way we are delivering projects at the new MTA Construction & Development,” said Janno Lieber, president of MTA Construction & Development. “From day one of this project we pledged to make sure that this project stayed on schedule and within budget, and we are doing everything necessary to make good on that commitment. That includes not losing time due to the COVID-19 crisis, and this weekend’s successful replacement of the Glen Cove Bridge is another step forward towards on-time completion of this essential work.”
MTA representatives said that the project is reported to be on time and on budget despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the weekend, Glen Cove Road was closed to through traffic between Old Country Road and Westbury Avenue, while the bridge was removed and the newly built structure was installed.
To further help facilitate this work, the Long Island Rail Road suspended weekend train service for a total of 55 hours between the Hicksville and Mineola stations. The Westbury and Carle Place stations were also closed during the construction, and train service was restored as of the early morning hours on Sunday.
“Each time we complete a component of the LIRR Expansion Project, we’re one step closer to unlocking the true potential of the railroad, and Long Island,” said Phil Eng, president of the Long Island Rail Road. “The new Glen Cove Road bridge will host a new third track to provide the increased capacity and flexibility – including the ability for true reverse commuting – that we need to provide the robust, reliable service our customers deserve. I’m proud of the LIRR workforce for all of their efforts in collaboration with the design-build team in getting the work done expeditiously.”
The new bridge is 60 feet long, 45 feet wide, weighs 285 tons and has a height of 14 feet, a standard clearance height for all new bridges along the corridor.
It was assembled in the Macy’s parking lot adjacent to the site and was lifted and rolled into place using specialized heavy-duty equipment, after demolishing the old bridge.
This method proved successful at Cherry Lane and Nassau Boulevard last year. It was also successfully employed at the Post Avenue Bridge in Westbury, which was also completed over a single weekend in October 2017.
With the bridge now set in place, LIRR crews are working to rebuild the track atop the bridge, reconnecting the existing two tracks.
In addition to the bridge replacement work, the third track LIRR expansion includes several related projects, including the construction of parking garages and improved station access, retaining and sound attenuation walls, improvements to rail bridges, and the removal of the eight street-level railroad crossings in the corridor.
Additionally, two grade crossings at Urban Avenue in New Cassel and Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park have been replaced with undergrade crossings.
The undergrade crossing at New Hyde Park Road will be completed in September and work has begun to build an undergrade crossing at School Street on the Westbury/New Cassel border.
Check out a time-lapse of the bridge replacement on YouTube:
