Tuesday, August 18, 2009

181st 1 train station ceiling collapse


I'm a few days late on this one, I just spotted it on the cover of a.m. NY this afternoon... a ceiling collapse at the 181st St 1 train station on Sunday around 10:30pm left debris of bricks and rubble covering 35 ft of track. The collapse has left the 1 train tracks closed between 168th St and Dyckman Street, likely until this weekend. It seems as though this was a long time coming, according to
Assemb.Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan)there have been complaints about the crumbling walls/ceiling and water leaking from the ceilings for 3 years with no repairs in sight.
Since the 181st St Station is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, a consultant is on board to conduct a design for restoration of the facade which has to "be done with sensitivity to preservation requirements."
In the meantime, poor 1 train riders are stuck riding a shuttle bus (and waiting in the sweltering heat), riding the M3 for free up St Nicholas, switching to the A train, or taking the M100 or Bx7 buses to the Dyckman St station where they can resume the 1 train ride up to 242nd St in the Bronx. Whew. The delays at the 168th st elevators have been a problem in the past, I can't even imagine what they're like now! I read today that it takes 20 shuttle buses to carry one trains worth of people, wow!
Your best bet is to avoid the 1 train in our area if you can, I know for me its too hot to make the long journey over to the 1 anyway, but I will definitely stay away this week!

*photo taken from amny.com

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