MTA VIA DUCT South Phase 1

The Park Avenue Viaduct Replacement Project is a major infrastructure initiative led by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Metro-North Railroad to modernize one of the most critical transportation corridors in the region. Built more than 130 years ago, the Park Avenue Viaduct carries four Metro-North tracks between East 110th Street and the Harlem River Lift Bridge serving Harlem–125th Street Station and delivering direct access to Grand Central Terminal. Phase 1 replaces the segment between East 115th Street and East 123rd Street.

This elevated structure supports 98% of all Metro-North train traffic, moving more than 220,000 customers on a typical weekday. Because of its age and essential role, the Viaduct is now undergoing a carefully phased replacement to ensure it remains safe, reliable, and resilient for decades to come.

The work is being completed in phases to minimize community and service impacts. Phase 1 (East 115th Street to East 123rd Street) began in 2023 and was completed in October 2025, replacing steel spans and foundations and integrating new track, power, and signal systems.

The finish was reviewed in depth with the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO); after extensive evaluation, SHPO approved HDG as compatible with the viaduct’s historic character echoing the lighter appearance of the original 1890s structure. Beyond aesthetics, HDG reduces lifecycle maintenance demands and offers a more environmentally responsible path to corrosion protection.

Halmar International, the project’s design-build contractor, replaced 8,240 feet of aging track by installing 128 new prefabricated bridge sections while keeping Metro-North service operational. Developed collaboratively during procurement with the MTA, the construction approach avoided extended shutdowns and enabled multiple work phases to advance in parallel.

Central to the operation was a custom gantry system spanning Park Avenue, including three 60-ft-tall, 200-ton Mi-Jack gantries used to remove deteriorated steel and concrete deck segments and set new bridge units into place. Work progressed through 19 weekend outages beginning in June 2024, taking two tracks out of service at a time while maintaining rail operations on the adjacent tracks.

The project is tracking 51 months ahead of schedule and $93 million under budget – achieved through disciplined planning and strong teamwork amongst the multiple partners. Just as critically, these gains were delivered while maintaining continuous commuter service and minimizing disruption for Metro-North riders.