Construction On Seven N Line Stations Is Underway — Here’s What You Need To Know

The MTA is finally taking the wrecking ball to the long-forgotten, post-apocalyptic N line.

The transportation company recently awarded a 48-month contract to renew nine stations along the Sea Beach line from 8th Avenue to 86th Street, according to transit authorities. Initially, officials predicted that construction would begin in December 2015, but it seems the work will begin earlier than anticipated and entryways at seven local stations have already been shut down for preliminary work.

Unmanned station houses at Fort Hamilton Parkway, New Utrecht Avenue, 18th Avenue, and Bay Parkway were closed for renovations on Wednesday, July 1. On Monday, unmanned stations at Kings Highway and Avenue U were also shuttered and will remain that way for at least six months. While these entrances are closed, customers can only access trains through staffed station houses.

The MTA also partially closed the 86th Street station Monday. Construction will be ongoing at half of the station at a time in order to allow customers access. The work on the 86th Street station will continue through April 2016, said an MTA spokesperson.

“We are aware of  inconvenience this may cause customers, but we ask your patience as we undertake this important project to repair the nine stations along the N line,” said MTA spokesperson Marisa Baldeo.

The graffiti-covered, crumbling subway line has long posed hazards to commuters. A typical day on the N line involves cracked walls, peeling paint, rusted stairwells, and the occasional falling gutter.

Improvements straphangers can expect to see from the latest construction include crack and spall repairs, tile and masonry work, floor topping, and lighting upgrades, according to the MTA.