February 2025
Walsh Construction completes MTA’s 207th Street Rail Yard Flood Mitigation & Resiliency Project
New York, New York – Walsh Construction has completed the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)/ New York City Transit’s (NYCT) 207th Street Rail Yard Project, a critical infrastructure initiative to restore and fortify the rail yard against severe weather events. This project was a direct response to damage caused by Superstorm Sandy and ensures the facility can withstand future high-impact storms, including those up to a Category 2 hurricane.
A key feature of the project is the 1,535-linear-foot marine floodwall, strategically positioned along the Harlem River. Engineered to endure a 500-year storm flood event, the floodwall consists of 279 interconnected 54-inch diameter steel pipe piles, forming a robust barrier against rising flood waters.
Beyond the floodwall, Walsh Construction redesigned and installed a new perimeter wall upland from the marine floodwall, along with stainless steel and flexible flood gates at entrances to enhance flood resilience. This included complex underwater lightweight concrete pours completely sealing off the existing relieving platform, demolition of adjacent structures, and the construction of various cut-off walls to reinforce the yard’s foundation against water intrusion.
Further infrastructure upgrades included the installation of portal flood protection at the interface between the yard and the underground tunnel system, as well as a full modernization of the yard’s signal, electrical and mechanical systems. This involved the replacement of all traction power cables, a completely new signal system for the yard to be a modern Solid-State Interlocking (SSI), track upgrades, and new switches, as well as the construction of two state-of-the-art Relay Buildings (one being a new Master Tower for the Yard) equipped with advanced electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems to support 24/7/365 rail operations.
The completion of this project represents a significant step forward in protecting New York City Transit’s infrastructure from extreme weather events while ensuring the continued efficiency and safety of rail operations at the 207th Street Rail Yard.