The Park Avenue Viaduct, a 130-year-old elevated steel structure that serves as a critical artery for Metro-North Railroad, is undergoing a major reconstruction project. Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced the commencement of this essential infrastructure overhaul in East Harlem, marking a significant step towards ensuring safer and more efficient train service, particularly for commuters utilizing the busy 125th Street Metro-North station.
“The Park Avenue Viaduct is indispensable to our transportation network, carrying countless passengers daily,” Governor Hochul stated. “This vital replacement project will deliver faster and more reliable service for our Metro-North customers while minimizing disruptions to the local East Harlem community.”
This massive undertaking focuses on the viaduct’s crucial role in carrying trains to and from Harlem-125th Street Station, a key transit hub for the Harlem, Hudson, and New Haven lines. An astounding 98% of all Metro-North trains rely on this viaduct to access both 125th Street and Grand Central Terminal. The structure stretches along Park Avenue from East 110th Street to the Harlem River Lift Bridge, making it a cornerstone of the Metro-North system and a direct link for countless commuters to and from 125th Street Metro-North.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber emphasized the viaduct’s historical significance and the necessity for modernization: “The Park Avenue Viaduct is a vital connection point linking Grand Central Terminal to the vast network of cities and towns served by Metro-North Railroad throughout the Bronx, areas north of New York City, and Connecticut. We commend the original engineers for creating a structure that has endured for 130 years. However, to maintain safe and dependable service for the 21st century and beyond, a comprehensive overhaul is now essential.”
The $590 million first phase of the Park Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project is dedicated to replacing significant portions of this aged steel structure. Nearly half of the viaduct dates back to its original construction in 1893. This investment, with $500.9 million in federal funding, underscores the critical need to maintain this infrastructure in optimal condition. Phase 1 specifically targets the replacement of structures, tracks, power systems, communications, and signal systems between East 115th Street and East 123rd Street, with work projected to continue through 2026. Current construction efforts are concentrated on the substructure, focusing on the viaduct’s foundations and columns.
Jamie Torres-Springer, President of MTA Construction & Development, highlighted the project’s long-term vision: “The Park Avenue Viaduct infrastructure has exceeded its intended lifespan. We are committed to constructing a more resilient viaduct that will reliably serve the region for the next century. MTA C&D is dedicated to employing innovative, modern techniques and materials to minimize construction noise and vibrations for the surrounding neighborhoods. We are also working in close collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation to integrate this project with planned street improvements.”
The phased approach of the project is designed to minimize disruption to both the community and Metro-North train schedules. Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi underscored the viaduct’s overwhelming importance: “Every Metro-North train operating east of the Hudson River – a staggering 750 trains each day – either travels over the Park Avenue Viaduct or connects with a train that does. Calling this 130-year-old infrastructure ‘critical’ almost feels inadequate. Metro-North deeply appreciates MTA Construction & Development for prioritizing the timely replacement of this viaduct, ensuring the railroad can maintain operations with minimal impact on our schedules.” This is particularly good news for the thousands of commuters who rely on 125th Street Metro-North daily.
Beyond ensuring the structural integrity of a vital transportation link, the reconstruction project incorporates community-focused enhancements. Responding to local feedback and working with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the design includes a more welcoming, lighter color scheme for the structure, improved lighting underneath the viaduct, and enhanced pedestrian safety measures. The utilization of modern design standards and materials is also expected to reduce noise and vibration levels in the vicinity. Furthermore, MTA Arts & Design is coordinating a permanent art installation at 116th Street as an integral part of the project, adding an aesthetic dimension to the infrastructure upgrade. This builds upon over $24 million in recent MTA investments in the Harlem-125th Street Station area, including improved lighting, station upgrades under the Enhanced Station Initiative, customer service kiosk improvements, stairwell replacements, and painting of other viaduct sections, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to improving the overall transit experience around 125th Street Metro-North.
The MTA has also established a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York and Vicinity (BCTC), signifying a commitment to working with union partners to enhance labor efficiency and control costs on capital projects while upholding worker pay and safety standards. Expected cost savings will be achieved through improved work rules and health insurance reforms.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer expressed his strong support for the project and the federal funding it received: “I am proud to have championed the allocation of $500 million in federal funds to modernize the Park Avenue Viaduct, a truly essential piece of infrastructure for Metro-North. These trains are the daily lifeline for hundreds of thousands of passengers, including New Yorkers commuting to jobs in Westchester and beyond. Modernizing our transportation infrastructure is absolutely crucial for ensuring resilience and providing safe, reliable service for generations to come.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand echoed this sentiment, stating, “The Park Avenue Viaduct is indispensable for countless commuters traveling on Metro-North trains. I am thrilled that this vital replacement project is underway and eagerly anticipate the improvements it will bring for Metro-North riders.”
Representative Adriano Espaillat further emphasized the importance of infrastructure modernization for the local community: “Robust infrastructure is fundamental to the safety and resilience of our communities. Sections of the Metro-North Avenue viaduct have been in service since the late 19th century and are long overdue for upgrades to meet modern standards. I commend Governor Hochul for this significant investment in replacing the Park Avenue Viaduct structures, which will benefit residents in my district and throughout the state for generations to come.”
To keep the East Harlem community informed, the project team has conducted numerous local information sessions and partnered with local schools to deliver STEM programming to over 500 students. Demonstrating a commitment to ongoing community engagement, the project has also appointed a dedicated, full-time bilingual (English/Spanish) Construction Community Liaison to address questions and provide project updates.
Project Benefits at a Glance:
- Ensures public safety, enhances viaduct resilience, and secures uninterrupted Metro-North service for the 98% of trains that depend on it, directly benefiting 125th Street Metro-North commuters.
- Reduces local noise and vibration through advanced design and materials.
- Improves pedestrian safety beneath the viaduct.
- Incorporates a permanent art installation at 116th Street, enhancing the public space.
Phase 1 Timeline:
- Q3 2023: Substructure construction commences beneath the viaduct.
- Q2 2024: Superstructure construction begins on the viaduct itself.
- 2026: Phase 1 completion.
For more detailed information about the Park Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project, please visit the project webpage here. For inquiries or to subscribe to project newsletters and construction notices, contact [email protected] or call (347) 422-7780. This reconstruction project promises to revitalize a vital piece of New York City infrastructure, ensuring improved and reliable service for 125th Street Metro-North and the wider Metro-North system for decades to come.
