Subway service on the A, B, C and D lines in Upper Manhattan returned Monday night after emergency crews spent much of the day repairing cracks discovered beneath the trackbed near Central Park.
The issue was found during planned weekend track work near 81st Street and Central Park West. The discovery prompted additional repair work and disrupted service for thousands of riders traveling through the Upper West Side.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority restored full service shortly after 8 p.m. Monday, ending hours of disruptions that had affected both local and express subway service in the area.
Before service was restored, downtown local trains were unable to stop between 125th Street and 59th Street-Columbus Circle. B and C trains operating downtown were instead running express through the affected section, skipping local stations.
Uptown A, B, C and D trains continued operating but experienced delays during the repair work. Earlier Monday, the MTA had advised riders to allow additional travel time and consider other subway options while crews worked on the track area.
Crews worked on emergency repairs
The cracks were uncovered as crews carried out scheduled track work over the weekend. Additional work was needed after the condition beneath the trackbed was identified, requiring crews to stabilize the area while repairs were carried out.
Temporary repair measures were put in place to allow subway service to resume. The MTA said permanent repairs will be completed at a later date.
The disruption centered around the 81st Street-Central Park West area, where the B and C lines serve the 81st Street station. The station is located at West 81st Street and Central Park West near the American Museum of Natural History.
Earlier in the day, the MTA had expected the disruption could continue into Tuesday morning, but crews completed the temporary work sooner than that timeline.
With full service restored Monday night, A, B, C and D riders can again travel through the affected Upper Manhattan section. Permanent work related to the trackbed issue is expected to take place separately.
