MTA Bridges and Tunnels announced a series of overnight flood door tests which will require the Queens Midtown Tunnel and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to partially close this summer.
Both tunnels feature 20-plus ton steel flood doors that act as a barrier in the presence of potential hurricanes or tropical storms. The nearly two-feet thick doors, measuring 29-feet wide and 14-feet high, prevent water from infiltrating tunnels and causing extensive damage similar to what was seen during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
Eight doors were installed in 2017 as part of the Agency’s long-term flood mitigation program, though they can only be moved when the tunnel tube is fully closed to traffic.
As a result, the Queens Midtown Tunnel will be closed according to the following schedule:
- Saturday, July 27 – 12:01 am through 8 am
- Sunday, July 28 – 1 am through 9 am
- Saturday, August 3 – 12:01 am through 8 am
- Sunday, August 4 – 1 am through 9 am
Additionally, the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel will be closed beginning tonight, Wednesday, July 24th at 9 m through tomorrow, Thursday, July 25th at 5 am.
New Yorkers can find real time updates on service changes here.