New York Gov. Cuomo announces first of eight LIRR grade crossings eliminated

Urban Avenues in New Cassel reopened on time to traffic and was the first of eight roadways to have its grade crossing removed for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) as part of the LIRR Expansion Project, according to an announcement from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Most of the crossings are being transformed into underpasses, which enhance railroad safety, improve traffic flow in communities of Nassau County and reduce localized nuisances from horns and bells.

"The LIRR is the backbone of the region's economy and we are modernizing it to create a more reliable service for passengers - with their convenience and safety as top priorities," Cuomo said. "The grade crossing that was eliminated and replaced with this newly opened roadway is part of a plan to eliminate all dangerous crossings and proceed with our nation-leading investments to give New Yorkers a 21st century transportation infrastructure."

The Urban Avenue crossing had been closed to traffic on March 8. The new bridge was put into place during the weekend of July 20-21 using an approach called "box-jacking" that reduces the length of time the tracks must be taken out of service to just one weekend.

Under this approach, workers built a 140-ton concrete structure onsite that includes the rail bridge, the 40 feet of roadway beneath the bridge, and the side walls connecting roadway below with rail bridge above. They then used powerful hydraulic jacks to inch the structure into place over the course of one weekend.

MTA Chief Development Officer Janno Lieber said, "It's a pleasure to reopen this roadway according to the expedited timeframe we've set for this project. This approach to grade crossing eliminations exemplifies our approach to the entire LIRR Expansion Project. We're doing it smarter, faster, within budget and with unprecedented community outreach and input."

LIRR President Phil Eng said, "This project will lead to a safer and more reliable operation for the LIRR. It reinforces everything we are doing through the LIRR Forward plan to improve safety, reduce risk, improve train operations and reduce the potential for events beyond our control that cause train delays or cancellations."

Workers at Urban Avenue excavated 2,700 cubic yards of material to dig the underpass to a depth of 22 feet.

 In the decade prior to the start of the LIRR Expansion Project in 2017, six fatal accidents took place at the crossings along the Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville.

This location will now enjoy reduced noise emanating from horns that are required to sound in the approach to a crossing and the bells that sound as crossing gates come down to block roadway traffic. Along the LIRR Main Line, crossing gates during rush hour are in the down position up to 35 percent of the time, creating traffic backups and increasing exhaust from vehicles.

The other railroad crossings that are being replaced by underpasses as part of the LIRR Expansion Project are at Covert Avenue in New Hyde Park, which closed in April and is slated to reopen this fall, New Hyde Park Road in New Hyde Park, School Street in New Cassel and two at Willis Avenue in Mineola.

The LIRR Expansion Project is a concerted investment in the LIRR's Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville that will include laying a new third track along the 9.8-mile corridor, eliminating eight grade crossings, replacing seven bridges and seven electrical substations, improving five stations, building 7.5 miles of retaining walls and expanding parking capacity.

The construction of a third track from Floral Park to Hicksville will reduce train congestion and delays and enable true bi-directional service during peak hours with a more reliable rail network.

The projects form a significant share of the 100 projects being undertaken systemwide as part of Gov. Cuomo's $6 billion investment to modernize and transform the LIRR.

The LIRR Expansion Project is a $2.6 billion design-build project due for completion in 2022.