The Glen Cove Road Bridge in Long Island, New York, opened to traffic on June 29. This is the fourth railroad bridge of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Third Track Expansion Project constructed by China Construction America (CCA), marking a new milestone for this project.

The LIRR Third Track Expansion Project team overcame difficulties caused by the pandemic and completed the work within a 48-hour double-track outage, which was scheduled on the last weekend of June. The project team, 3rd Track Constructors (3TC), successfully removed the old Glen Cove Bridge and replaced it with a new 285-ton, 60-foot long and 45-foot wide span using Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs). The replacement during the weekend allowed the normal operation of the LIRR service for Monday morning’s rush hour. With extensive planning and coordination, the team also successfully lifted and installed the Carle Place Station pedestrian overpass structure during the same double-track outage. The Carle Place Station will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Once completed, the new platforms will be able to accommodate 12-car trains and be equipped with modern features such as WiFi, digital signage, charging stations, and snow melting systems.

The original 78-year-old Glen Cove Road Bridge was in urgent need of repair. This new single-span steel bridge consists of three-rail bays and will enable the third track construction to expand the capacity of the mainline and increase flexibility in train scheduling. In addition to the bridge replacement, the team also set the track atop the bridge and installed power, signals, and other systems during the track outage.

The LIRR Third Track Expansion Project is the largest single-phase project in terms of contract value of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). As an exemplary project of the MTA, it has received close attention from the New York government and the general public. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the team stood firm at their posts and advanced the project according to schedule while ensuring quality and safety, contributing to the recovery of the city during the pandemic and the economic development of the Long Island area in New York.