By Bill Parry
Straphangers from Long Island City will have to bear the brunt of another round of weekend service shutdowns of the No. 7 subway line beginning next month. The MTA announced that disruptions will affect the line on 12 weekends during the first five months of 2015.
On nine of those weekends, beginning Jan. 17, there will be no service in either direction between Queensboro Plaza and Times Square-42nd Street. The MTA said the shutdowns are required for work on three improvement projects — installing a new signal system, replacing tracks and restoring the Steinway Tubes.
“The majority of this work is scheduled over weekends when ridership is lower and gives our workers continuous, train-free access to the 7 line,” the MTA states on its website.
“We are aware of the inconvenience these and other disruptions cause, and we appreciate your patience.”
The service shutdown will expand to 74th St-Broadway during two other weekends this winter, Feb. 27-March 2 and March 6-9.
Free shuttle buses will run between impacted stations during the outages.
The MTA will also stop weekend service on the No. 7 between Mets-Willets Point and Flushing-Main Street on Jan.2-5 and Jan. 9-12.
