7 Subway Extension - Construction Progress

Construction Progress

In October 2007, the MTA awarded a $1.145 billion contract to build 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of twin-tube tunnel from the current 7 train terminus at Times Square, and the shell of the 34th Street station, to S3, a joint venture of J.F. Shea, Skanska USA Civil, and Schiavone. Richard Dattner and Partners, Architects, designed the Jacob Javits Convention Center station. After excavating the new terminal's shell and creating the first 1,000 feet (300 m) of tunnel using the drill-and-blast method, S3 placed two tunnel-boring machines (TBMs) in the ground to dig the remaining 6,000 feet (1,800 m); as it dug, each TBM placed precast concrete liner segments to create the tunnel interior.

In September 2007, it was announced that the new station would feature platform screen doors. The station (along with the new South Ferry station on the IRT Broadway – Seventh Avenue Line) will include special air-cooling systems to reduce the temperature along platforms.

On December 3, 2007, the MTA conducted a ceremony at the Times Square subway station marking the launch of construction of the 7 train extension. The contractor began excavating the station cavern adjacent to the Javits Convention Center. MTA posted a construction update with photographs on its website in November 2008, showing substantial progress.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's December 12, 2006, address to the New York League of Conservation Voters noted that in November 2006, the government began issuing bonds to fund the extension of the 7 subway to Eleventh Avenue and 34th Street. The $2 Billion 7 train subway extension is being funded with New York City funds from municipal Tax Increment Financing (TIF) bond sales that are expected to be repaid with property tax revenues from future developments in areas served by the extension.

One physical hindrance to the construction of the extension was the lower-level platform at 42nd Street – Port Authority Bus Terminal on the IND Eighth Avenue Line. The abandoned platform was partially razed, to allow the 7 train extension to be built.

In June 2008, construction on the tunnels began along Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan. In February 2009, the MTA lowered the first of two tunnel-boring machine into a giant shaft at the corner of 25th Street and Eleventh Avenue. The two boring machines dug parallel 7,100-foot (2,200 m) long tunnels north along Eleventh Avenue to the current terminus of the 7 service at 41st Street and Times Square. On December 21, 2009, the MTA said that a tunnel-boring machine broke through the 34th Street station cavern wall. Both tunnel-boring machines were scheduled to finish the required tunneling in the spring of 2010.

In June 2009, the MTA completed excavation of a 150-foot (46 m) long cavern within the basement of the Port Authority Bus Terminal, which will form part of the northern (compass eastern) end of the new extension and connect it to the Times Square station. The cavern lies just below the bus entrance ramp to the terminal's lower level. In June 2010, one of the TBMs completed its tunnel at the cavern; the second TBM broke through the wall of the cavern on July 15, 2010, completing its tunneling operation. The TBMs were partially disassembled and backed up to the 25th Street shaft, where they were lifted out. In April 2011, the MTA announced that the contract covering the tunnels, the 34th Street station mezzanine and passenger platform was 85% complete, and that the systems contract, covering mechanical and electrical systems, electric power, lighting and train tracks would be awarded by July 2011. A second entrance to the station is planned.

In May 2012, the MTA announced that the extension, now 65% complete, had received the installation of the first set of rails.