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Tunnel Boring Machine Headed for Second Ave Subway
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 8, 2010
Modified Apr 8, 2010
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Courtesy NYC Transit
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 8, 2010
Modified Apr 8, 2010
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Oh baby, today on the NYC Transit Twitter it's all about our favorite piece of sandhog hardware, the massive Tunnel Boring Machine. We've previously reveled in video of these bad boys in action over on the (over budget!) 7 train extension, but now we're approaching TBM time on the Second Ave subway project! Don't laugh, they've been making progress over there; at the end of last month we showed you stellar photos of the "Launch Box" 60 feet underneath Second Avenue, between 91st and 95th Streets.
An MTA spokesman tells us that sooner or later a TBM will be lowered down in there, and during the first phase it will dig tunnels from the south end of the Launch Box down to 63rd Street, to connect with the existing tunnels serving the F line. (According to NYC Transit, the TBM "was originally made 30 years ago and used on 4 other projects; it has been reconditioned to be 'like new.' The machine was rebuilt and tested in Newark, NJ. It's been disassembled for shipment and will be reassembled again in the Launch Box.") There's no word yet on when drilling in the Launch Box will begin, but you can follow along here on the MTA's website. If you drill it, it is no dream!
Tagged
launch box
photos
second avenue subway
tbm
tunnel boring machine
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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