METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

MTA to close Sandy damaged tunnels for repairs

Temporary fixes brought those tunnels back into service, but the damage has led to increased failures of components, a growing number of delayed trains and a pressing need to make permanent repairs.

June 5, 2013
MTA to close Sandy damaged tunnels for repairs

Montague Tube image courtesy MTA New York City Transit / Marc A. Hermann

2 min to read


Two New York subway tunnels heavily damaged by Hurricane Sandy will be closed for long-term repairs this summer, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced.

The Greenpoint Tube, which carries the G train under Newtown Creek between Brooklyn and Queens, will be closed for 12 weekends this summer and fall starting July 6. The Montague Tube, an almost mile-long pair of tunnels that carries the R train under the East River between Brooklyn and Manhattan, will be closed for up to 14 months starting the first week in August.

Sandy inundated the tubes with millions of gallons of seawater, which corroded, degraded, or ruined almost everything from tracks and switches, to signals and controls, to power and communications cables. Temporary fixes brought those tunnels back into service, but the damage has led to increased failures of components, a growing number of delayed trains and a pressing need to make permanent repairs.

In the Greenpoint Tube, power cables that were immersed in salt water are corroding from the inside, while corrosion on the outside of rails and fasteners raises the potential for short circuits. The controls for ventilation, lighting and communication systems were destroyed and have not been restored to their pre-Sandy condition.

Ad Loading...

The Montague Tube is in far worse condition and will require much more extensive repairs. It was flooded for a length of 4,025 feet to a depth of 20 feet with corrosive salt water sitting stagnant in the tube for 10 days. More than 27 million gallons of water were eventually pumped from the tube before work began to make it useable again for train service. While the work was enough to restore R service between Brooklyn Heights and Lower Manhattan, it was never intended to be a permanent repair.

VIDEO: Check out video of MTA officials inspecting the Montague Tube.

More Rail

A rendering of Trinity Metro's future station at the Medical Center
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 30, 2026

Trinity Metro Breaks Ground on $270M TEXRail Extension

The 2.1-mile extension will connect Fort Worth’s Medical District and Near Southside to downtown, surrounding communities, and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

Read More →
Austin Light Rail rendering from UT perspective
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 30, 2026

Bringing Austin’s First Light Rail System to Life

Austin Transit Partnership CEO Greg Canally discusses the city's nearly 10-mile light rail project, its collaborative approach to project delivery, the importance of community engagement, and the milestones ahead as construction approaches in 2027.

Read More →
Two Metra locomotives on rail tracks.
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 29, 2026

Metra Draft Plan Outlines Costs, Service Improvements for Regional Rail

The Systemwide Network Plan identifies infrastructure needs and potential investments to expand all-day, bidirectional rail service across the Chicago region.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Magazine graphic featuring railroad tracks and switches inside a dark tunnel with the headline “Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service.”
Rail•by Elora Haynes•October 29, 2026

Amtrak Completes First Street Tunnel Upgrades, Restores Service

The nine-day construction project included replacing aging track infrastructure and modernizing switch systems near Washington Union Station.

Read More →
FRA Invests $2.3B in Rail Projects Nationwide
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 28, 2026

FRA Announces $2.3B for Passenger, Freight Rail Projects Nationwide

The CRISI Grant Program funding will support rail infrastructure improvements, safety upgrades, and projects aimed at improving freight and passenger rail service across 45 states and Washington, D.C.

Read More →
A Caltrain electric railcar on the tracks
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 27, 2026

Caltrain’s Electrification Drives a New Era of Ridership Growth

The railroad’s shift to electric service has brought more frequent trains, stronger customer satisfaction, and increased ridership, earning it APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation System award.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
METRO Magazine graphic featuring a dark blue background with abstract curved lines and the headline “FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project.”
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 26, 2026

FTA Advances $164M Broward County Commuter Rail Project

The proposed 10.5-mile commuter rail extension would connect Fort Lauderdale and Aventura, expanding passenger rail options in South Florida.

Read More →
An A line MTA subway car near the soon to be replaced signaling system.
Rail•by Staff and News Reports•October 23, 2026

New York MTA Launches Historic $1.9B Signal, Track Modernization Project

Funded in part by congestion pricing revenue, the project will replace nearly century-old signals along the A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens.

Read More →
The LA Metro San Fernando Valley light rail extension corridor
Rail•by Alex Roman•October 20, 2026

LA Metro Breaks Ground on East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Project

The 6.7-mile line will add 11 stations along Van Nuys Boulevard, expand access to jobs and regional transit connections, and support Metro’s broader efforts to improve mobility as rail ridership grows.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
New Standard Helps Transit Agencies Address Climate Risks
Security and Safety•by Alex Roman•October 19, 2026

CSA Group Releases Climate Resilience Standard for Transit, Passenger Rail

Developed with support from the Standards Council of Canada, CSA D700 guides assessing climate-related risks and planning adaptation measures for transit and passenger rail systems.

Read More →