The Second Avenue Subway project has been either proposed/in planning for almost a century now. it appears that work is finally starting to take shape as the largest subway expansion in over 50 years passes some significant milestones. Mayor Bloomberg expressed his both optimism and dismay with the project’s slow progress. While there is a “50/50 chance [he] will see the subway come to fruition,” Phase 1 has a completion date of December 2016. While a significant amount of work still remains, a clear foundation and infrastructure has been completed as a rough outline of the project takes shape. The project reached a milestone earlier this year after wrapping up all blasting for the initial Phase 1 (out of four total segments).
Assuming work continues on schedule, (which surprisingly enough, has been the case for the past four years now…) Phase 1 will extend the Q train across 63rd Street up to 95th Street three years from now. Phase 2 will extend the Q train all the way up to 125th Street. Phase 3 will be the longest segment and will create – the T line – running from 63rd and Second Avenue down to Houston Street. The fourth and final phase will extend the T line down to Hanover Square at the bottom of Manhattan.
All in all, this project will eventually come to revolutionize the East Side. Look for an increase in real estate prices as the project nears its completion date. Not only will noise and other construction complaints begin to subside, but foot traffic, local business development, and of course access to an entirely new train route will bring large amounts into this area of Manhattan. As the project moves further downtown, expect areas in Midtown East, Alphabet City, and the Lower East Side to benefit as well. Granted the entire project does not have a completion date…these changes are most certainly off in the distant future. Hopefully work will continue on schedule!
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