The $300 million Coney Island Yard Complex project has been unveiled, which includes infrastructure improvements strengthening key systems against the effects of climate change at the New York City Transit (NYCT) Brooklyn facility.
During Hurricane Sandy, the complex experienced significant flooding, which damaged underground cables and tracks crucial for powering subway cars. Components of the completed project include a flood mitigation system designed to manage future damage sustained to the complex from fluctuating weather patterns.
A 1,371 m (4,500 ft) steel truss bridge designed to move integral transit system elements such as battery, traction power, control cabling and equipment, and communications aboveground is the central design aspect of the Coney Island Yard Complex.
TAP Electric functioned as a subcontractor with general contractor Tully Construction to design and assemble the bridge.
“This structure was designed to sustain weather elements for the northeast region’s climate. Every time there was heavy rain or a high tide, the yard would get flooded, which is what happened during Superstorm Sandy—a storm that we all thought was a once in a lifetime weather event,” says Peter Mione, a superintendent for TAP Electric. “Now we see that more severe weather is becoming the norm so, with that expectation going forward, the work we did will fortify and harden the complex to make it more resilient. Whether there is rain, ice, wind, or snow, the system will be able to stand up to the power and impact of future storms.”
