Final Phase of M Line Overpass Reconstruction Begins September 2

...The Metropolitan Transportation Authority today announced that the reconstruction of the Fresh Pond Bridge on the  line will be successfully completed on September 1 as scheduled. This will conclude the first phase of a crucial $163 million project to replace two deteriorating  line overpasses, the completion of which will ensure safe and reliable service for thousands of customers in Brooklyn and Queens. During Phase 1, the MTA successfully rebuilt the century-old Fresh Pond Bridge using modern building materials that will ensure the safe operation of trains over the bridge for decades to come. This bridge is vital to  service, carrying trains to its Queens terminus and providing access to subway car storage yards. Completion of the first phase of this project will allow the restoration of train service to four stations on the Myrtle Avenue line in Queens.

Phase 2 work on the elevated tracks atop the Myrtle Viaduct will begin on Saturday, September 2. This century-old, 310-foot-long concrete structure connects the  with the  lines and has been in daily, non-stop use since it was built in 1913. The aging concrete deck has deteriorated after decades of heavy use and exposure to inclement weather, and must be replaced along with the tracks and other infrastructure.

The reconstruction of the Myrtle Viaduct, which is located between the Myrtle Av  and Central Av stations, involves building a concrete deck structure and safety walkways and installing new third rail, low-vibration tracks, new steel columns, new foundations, and new drainage. The work requires a full suspension of train service on the overpass to allow for its complete demolition and to provide unfettered access for workers. The work is expected to take eight months, ending in spring 2018. Once the demolition and reconstruction are completed, customers who use the  trains or live near the track structure will notice a smoother rider and quieter track operations thanks to the new rails and infrastructure.

During the final phase of the Myrtle Viaduct reconstruction,  service operates in two sections: as local weekday service between Broadway Junction and Forest Hills-71 Av, and as a shuttle train service making all station stops between the Middle Village-Metropolitan Av terminus and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs . The shuttle train will serve Metropolitan Av, Fresh Pond Rd, Forest Av, Seneca Av and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs, running every 10 minutes during the day and every 20 minutes during overnight hours. At Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs, shuttle train customers can switch to the  line or free shuttle buses for service to the Myrtle Av  station.