By Chris Engelhardt
The MTA announced this week that the Queens-Midtown Tunnel’s Queens-bound tube (south) will be shut down for construction work this weekend.
The agency said Wednesday that the tube will be closed from Saturday, July 27 at 2 a.m. through Monday, July 29 at 5 a.m. for joint repairs, paving and striping work and inspections. The work is being performed by Restani/Excellent Paving, of Astoria.
The effort is being coordinated with New York State Department of Transportation’s work on the Long Island Expressway to minimize impacts to traffic.
Two-way traffic will be in effect in the remaining tube for cars and city transit buses, but commercial traffic must use an alternate route, the MTA said. Drivers should expect delays and are advised to use an alternate route. Traffic agents and signs will be in place to help direct motorists, the agency said.
The MTA said several detours are in place for drivers. Motorists driving from Manhattan to Queens can enter the tunnel at 34th Street between Second and Third avenues; drivers heading into Manhattan from Queens can exit normally at 37th Street to head uptown; and downtown traffic will use the marginal tunnel exit to 38th Street and then to Second Avenue. The 34th Street and Second Avenue ramps will be closed to traffic exiting in Manhattan, the MTA said.
Reach reporter Chris Engelhardt by e-mail at cengelhardt@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
