MTA to Install New Nassau Boulevard Bridge This Weekend

Crews working on the LIRR Expansion Project will replace the Nassau Boulevard Bridge located near the Merillon Avenue Station in the Village of Garden City along the LIRR Main Line.

This low-hanging bridge, which is currently 11 feet 6 inches, has been the site of many accidents over the years by trucks striking the bridge, resulting in train delays in both directions while LIRR crews worked to determine the bridge's safety and structural stability before restoring train service. Bridges below 14 feet are vulnerable to bridge strikes: in 2016, there were 20 bridge strikes in Nassau County, illustrating the need to improve the safety and reliability for both vehicles and LIRR passengers by replacing low-hanging bridges. The new bridge will be 14 feet high, which will allow trucks to safely pass underneath.

To complete the bridge roll-in there will be no Main Line service between New Hyde Park and Hicksville for the weekend of October 5th and 6th.

Port Jefferson & Ronkonkoma Branches Westbound

Westbound customers on the Ronkonkoma branch traveling from stations Ronkonkoma through Farmingdale, and on the Port Jefferson branch for stations Port Jefferson/Huntington through Hicksville, will board trains at their station to Hicksville, where they will transfer to diesel shuttle trains operating between Hicksville and Babylon via the Central Branch, then transfer at Babylon to express trains for western terminals. Bethpage customers will board the diesel shuttle train to Babylon, then transfer at Babylon to express trains for western terminals.

Port Jefferson & Ronkonkoma Branches Eastbound

Customers traveling from western terminals to Ronkonkoma branch stations Farmingdale through Ronkonkoma, and to Port Jefferson branch stations Hicksville through Huntington and Port Jefferson, will be able to board electric express service to Babylon, where they will transfer to diesel shuttle trains operating between Babylon and Hicksville via the Central Branch, then transfer at Hicksville to trains operating to either Ronkonkoma or Huntington/Port Jefferson. Customers for Bethpage will board the electric express service to Babylon, then transfer to the diesel shuttle train, which will stop at Bethpage on its way to Hicksville.

Oyster Bay Branch & Hempstead Branch

Oyster Bay Branch diesel service will operate between Oyster Bay and Mineola. Bus service will be provided for Oyster Bay and Mineola customers between Mineola and Hempstead. NICE bus will be cross-honoring LIRR tickets on the N40/N41 routes between Mineola and Hempstead. Additionally, NICE bus will be cross-honoring LIRR tickets on the N22/N24 lines between Mineola and Hicksville.

Extra trains have been added between Hempstead and Penn Station to serve as an alternative service option for customers traveling to/from New Hyde Park, Merillon Avenue, Mineola, Carle Place and Westbury. Extra trains have been added between New York and Babylon to connect with shuttle trains between Babylon and Hicksville.

There will be normal weekend service intervals on the Montauk, Long Beach, Far Rockaway, Port Washington, and West Hempstead Greenport Branches, but on adjusted schedules.

For more information, please visit LIRR Expansion Project Floral Park to Hicksville.