The Park Avenue Viaduct is an elevated railroad structure which carries four (4) third-rail powered tracks along Park Avenue from East 97th Street (cut stone retaining walls and cut stone arches), then at East 110th transitions to a steel viaduct up to the Harlem River Lift Bridge. The Viaduct spans 21 city blocks and is approximately 1.2 miles long. All trains from the Hudson, Harlem and New Haven Lines converge just north of the Viaduct and must cross it to enter Grand Central Terminal. This 130-year-old structure is one of the most critical links in the Metro-North system, used by 98% of all MNR trains and serving as a cornerstone of New York’s rail network for over a century.
As a subconsultant, SI Engineering, P.C. (SIE) provided construction management and outreach services for the design-build contract for Phase 2 of the complete replacement of MTA-MNR’s Park Avenue Viaduct from Bent 74 to Bent 89 between midblock of East 127th / East 128th Street and midblock of East 131st / East 132nd Street along Park Avenue in Harlem, NY. Phase 2 continues the multi-phase replacement effort intended to deliver a modern viaduct capable of serving the region for the next hundred years, supporting essential connections to Harlem-125th Street Station and Grand Central Terminal.
SIE provided construction management services, including detailed inspection, on-site field testing of materials, other construction activities, such as including field measurement and collection of data necessary to submit monthly and final estimates and progress reports, and preparing record plans showing all changes from the contract plans. SIE also provided project field office administrative assistance and document control support. SIE’s role also contributed to long-term goals of improving safety, service reliability, and reducing noise and vibration impacts for surrounding residents as part of this major design-build modernization effort.
SIE also provided outreach services, including coordinating and maintaining ongoing communication with the surrounding community and stakeholders to keep them informed of the status of the project. SIE staff attended and prepared materials for various stakeholders’ meetings to provide updates on how construction phase activities of the project may impact the community. SIE staff also actively managed public outreach activities, such as meetings, presentations, material development, digital content, and behind-the-scenes research on community issues. Through this outreach, SIE helped support neighborhood quality of life, maintain access for local residents and businesses, and contribute to a more welcoming streetscape that will benefit the surrounding Harlem community for generations to come.
