Manhattan Bridge subway service resumes

After more than 20 years of rehabilitation, the Manhattan Bridge began serving as a four-train subway crossing once again this past Sunday. The B, D, and N trains return to regular daily service across the bridge alongside the Q (local) train, while M, W, and Q (express) service on the bridge will be discontinued and rerouted.

The revised subway service will affect more than 600,000 riders on nine total lines -- including the R train and the Grand Street shuttle -- and will directly link Brooklyn to both the Broadway and Sixth Avenue subway lines.

The changes as of February 22 include:

The project required extensive reinforcement of the bridge's center span

B: Runs on Sixth Avenue line through Broadway-Lafayette station, then stops at Grand Street before crossing the Manhattan Bridge. It replaces the Q (express), running express on the Brighton line in Brooklyn to Brighton Beach.

D: Also runs on Sixth Avenue line through Broadway-Lafayette station, then stops at Grand Street before crossing the Manhattan Bridge. It replaces the W, running express along Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn to Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue.

M: No change to rush hour service; however, midday service operates only between Middle-Village/Metropolitan Avenue and Chambers Street (service to Bay Parkway will operate only during rush hours).

N: On weekdays, runs express on the Broadway line and over the Manhattan Bridge (skipping DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn except late night). It runs local via the bridge on weekends, except late night.

Q local: No change to existing service.

Q express: B train replaces this line.

R: Operates with increased rush-hour service as the Broadway line local train.

S: Grand Street shuttle ceases operation, replaced by the B and D trains.

W: Runs local between Whitehall Street in Lower Manhattan and Ditmars Blvd. in Astoria, Queens, on weekdays only.

More details about the service changes and a printable map are available at New York City Transit's website.

Subway service on the bridge was initially changed due to major reconstruction of the 95-year-old, two-level span, which began in the early 1980s. The project required extensive reinforcement of the bridge's center span and approaches to support heavy train traffic on its outside lower lanes.

During the bridge's reconstruction, New York City Transit (NYCT) spent more than $33 million in subway upgrades and repairs that included the installation of new tracks, signals, and a power delivery system on the bridge, along with a renovated tunnel lighting system on the Manhattan side.

Peter S. Kalikow, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (the NYCT's parent) said that the restored service will benefit riders in many ways, including providing "more service, less crowding, fewer transfers, and a simpler service plan for hundreds of thousands of our customers."

The Manhattan Bridge