New York subway tunnels get security upgrades
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-ChiefMTA New York City Transit—and for that matter the entire Metropolitan Transportation Authority—has been hardening its rail infrastructure against terrorist attack, comparable to actions taken by PATH reported earlier this week.
Since 2004, 10 subway tunnels linking Manhattan with Queens or Brooklyn under the East River have been receiving structural reinforcement under a $250 million program. Treatment includes lining subway tubes with high-impact-bearing metal that would prevent or significantly delay collapse or massive flooding in the case of a terrorist attack. For some tunnel segments not fully encased in Manhattan schist or other natural stone surroundings, such as in river-bottom mud, massive slabs of rock and concrete have been lowered into place.
MTA’s seven bridges, some of which are used by subway lines, also are being hardened with plates and “collars” on cables that can resist blast forces.
The project reportedly is 93% complete.
