Another world beneath the surface
June 17, 2013 6:43 PM Subscribe
So deep it's grosser than the bottom level of w4 st in august
posted by nathancaswell at 6:57 PM on June 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by nathancaswell at 6:57 PM on June 17, 2013 [3 favorites]
The CHUD community celebrates this new expansion of housing and food sources.
posted by The Whelk at 6:58 PM on June 17, 2013 [8 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 6:58 PM on June 17, 2013 [8 favorites]
A TPM reader explains why everything is the color it is.
posted by Tsuga at 6:58 PM on June 17, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Tsuga at 6:58 PM on June 17, 2013 [7 favorites]
Tsuga beat me to the comment/link I was about to make, so I'll instead just say that 'shotcrete' is my new favorite word.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:00 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:00 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ad hominem, it's about 30 metres deep, so, about normal (at least in London the tube can run up to 70m deep I think?)-- also, hasn't NYC heard about escalators, they're super whizzy.
posted by Static Vagabond at 7:02 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Static Vagabond at 7:02 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Well, I appreciate the pics. I've got my spot picked out for when New York turns into a post-apocalyptic falloutesque hellscape or I mutate into a morlock, whichever comes first. Hopefully morlock, I don't want to have to drink out of toilets.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:02 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 7:02 PM on June 17, 2013
The fourth one captures such a tender moment. In think there's something in my eye...
posted by sriracha at 7:03 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sriracha at 7:03 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
It looks like it should be completed somewhere around 2043.
posted by AnnElk at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by AnnElk at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
also, hasn't NYC heard about escalators, they're super whizzy.
It's true, escalator's failure mode is stairs, and you aren't being groped by 50 people when you ride them. But our current deep stations like 168 and High Street have elevators, I think to add a bit of fun during rush hours.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2013
It's true, escalator's failure mode is stairs, and you aren't being groped by 50 people when you ride them. But our current deep stations like 168 and High Street have elevators, I think to add a bit of fun during rush hours.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:05 PM on June 17, 2013
The world has ended and underneath the devastated island of New York lies the last remnants of humanity. And the Whelk.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:07 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:07 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
I've got my spot picked out for when New York turns into a post-apocalyptic falloutesque hellscape
Having discussed this at length we have decided that you occupy a hard to reach penthouse suite and sit on top of a huge supply of Xanax, Klonopin, and Viagra that you liberated from the apartments downstairs.
posted by The Whelk at 7:08 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Having discussed this at length we have decided that you occupy a hard to reach penthouse suite and sit on top of a huge supply of Xanax, Klonopin, and Viagra that you liberated from the apartments downstairs.
posted by The Whelk at 7:08 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
So nothing changes?
posted by Ad hominem at 7:10 PM on June 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by Ad hominem at 7:10 PM on June 17, 2013 [4 favorites]
All the photos, and more, are on the MTA's Flickr pages (link goes to their sets).
posted by plastic_animals at 7:13 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by plastic_animals at 7:13 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
also, hasn't NYC heard about escalators, they're super whizzy
The last picture in the OP appears to be an escalator ramp.
posted by stbalbach at 7:17 PM on June 17, 2013
The last picture in the OP appears to be an escalator ramp.
posted by stbalbach at 7:17 PM on June 17, 2013
Ah, I was looking for an original source to post this. My title was going to be "C.H.U.D.s vs. Sandhogs".
posted by benito.strauss at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by benito.strauss at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
I've seen similar pictures over the last year or so, but for whatever reason the videos of explosives underground enamored me the most.
posted by Wolfster at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by Wolfster at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
It's only "moonscape" as opposed to "just another construction site" because of the overhead excavation and nothing but artificial lighting. Really not an extraordinary dig though, they don't seem to be worried about the ceiling falling much nor having to use special equipment to dig it. Sweet spot for tunnel builders.
posted by localroger at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by localroger at 7:23 PM on June 17, 2013
Really not an extraordinary dig though
Aw man. don't tell me that. I thought we finally had something cool we could call our own after all these years. Back to the drawing board I guess.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:28 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
Aw man. don't tell me that. I thought we finally had something cool we could call our own after all these years. Back to the drawing board I guess.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:28 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
We still have punjabi express
posted by nathancaswell at 7:30 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by nathancaswell at 7:30 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
Oh yes, they can't take our 4am Chana Masala from us.
posted by Ad hominem at 7:34 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by Ad hominem at 7:34 PM on June 17, 2013
It looks like what a construction effort of a Moon base might look like.
posted by BlueMarble72 at 7:41 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by BlueMarble72 at 7:41 PM on June 17, 2013
Coming from a city (Melbourne) where all new transport infrastructure MUST be a tollway, because it's 1950 and the car is the future and the future's now - can I say how heartening it is to see public transport infrastructure actually being created.
posted by Mario Speedwagon at 8:13 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by Mario Speedwagon at 8:13 PM on June 17, 2013
These are great!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:24 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:24 PM on June 17, 2013
If you like this, you'll enjoy the g-cans system, which is storm water drainage for Tokyo.
posted by thewalrus at 8:29 PM on June 17, 2013
posted by thewalrus at 8:29 PM on June 17, 2013
A lot of these are not the new 2nd Ave subway, but rather a different project also on the east side of Manhattan called East Side Access. For example, this photo appears to be part of the new LIRR station being built underneath Grand Central Station. As you can see, this is also a massive undertaking.
posted by theory at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by theory at 8:49 PM on June 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
Looks like a great Minecraft project.
posted by monospace at 9:12 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by monospace at 9:12 PM on June 17, 2013 [2 favorites]
It looks like what a construction effort of a Moon base might look like.
The didn't say it looks like a "hypothetical moonscape", they said it looks like a "moonscape"
TPM REVEALS EXISTENCE OF SECRET MOONBASE
posted by russm at 9:19 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
The didn't say it looks like a "hypothetical moonscape", they said it looks like a "moonscape"
TPM REVEALS EXISTENCE OF SECRET MOONBASE
posted by russm at 9:19 PM on June 17, 2013 [1 favorite]
They're going to run up against the Nosferatu and the Bone Gnawers soon.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 12:15 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 12:15 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
also, hasn't NYC heard about escalators, they're super whizzy.
Nah, having lived there, I would have to give elevator cabs, with their privacy, the edge on whizzy.
theory, good catch! I was wondering about all the different gallery shapes and sizes (that were shown in the, uh, gallery).
It looks like it should be completed somewhere around 2043.
Well, the excavation is the hard part. Putting in rail, signals, platforms and correctly vaultable fare collection gates is comparatively easy. This (Phase I) only adds three stations to the system!
I was pretty curious about this view, showing how effectively close to the foundations of these tall buildings this all was -- in 2009 a couple of buildings were considered in danger and blasting was halted until things were shored up better.
posted by dhartung at 12:24 AM on June 18, 2013
Nah, having lived there, I would have to give elevator cabs, with their privacy, the edge on whizzy.
theory, good catch! I was wondering about all the different gallery shapes and sizes (that were shown in the, uh, gallery).
It looks like it should be completed somewhere around 2043.
Well, the excavation is the hard part. Putting in rail, signals, platforms and correctly vaultable fare collection gates is comparatively easy. This (Phase I) only adds three stations to the system!
I was pretty curious about this view, showing how effectively close to the foundations of these tall buildings this all was -- in 2009 a couple of buildings were considered in danger and blasting was halted until things were shored up better.
posted by dhartung at 12:24 AM on June 18, 2013
also, hasn't NYC heard about escalators, they're super whizzy.
Looking down the length/depth of the escalator at one of the Moscow stations I used to commute through (can't remember which one, it's been almost 30 years), I've felt a bit dizzy despite having no fear of heights. And that was probably just a bit over 100 meters long / 35 or so meters deep. They dig them much deeper sometimes.
That's why the descent is usually broken up into several flights. Of stairs, of course.
posted by hat_eater at 4:05 AM on June 18, 2013
Looking down the length/depth of the escalator at one of the Moscow stations I used to commute through (can't remember which one, it's been almost 30 years), I've felt a bit dizzy despite having no fear of heights. And that was probably just a bit over 100 meters long / 35 or so meters deep. They dig them much deeper sometimes.
That's why the descent is usually broken up into several flights. Of stairs, of course.
posted by hat_eater at 4:05 AM on June 18, 2013
It's all very impressive until they uncover the Monolith, and then everything changes.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:49 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:49 AM on June 18, 2013
Blah, blah, blah, Balrog, blah, blah, blah!
posted by blue_beetle at 5:26 AM on June 18, 2013
posted by blue_beetle at 5:26 AM on June 18, 2013
It looks like it should be completed somewhere around 2043.
Only because they haven't figured out yet how to evict these folks.
posted by aught at 5:29 AM on June 18, 2013
Only because they haven't figured out yet how to evict these folks.
posted by aught at 5:29 AM on June 18, 2013
So when East Side Access is up and running they'll close the Grand Central 4/5/6 stop, right? Because it will be just about unusable, just layers of people on top of each other I would think.
posted by gubo at 5:53 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by gubo at 5:53 AM on June 18, 2013 [1 favorite]
The Wikipedia write-up on the Second Avenue subway is interesting. I didn't know the story behind "the most famous thing that's never been built in New York City." I particularly liked this part:
"In 1949, the New York Board of Transportation accepted delivery of ten new prototype subway cars made of stainless steel from the Budd Company, named by their contract, R11, specifically intended for the Second Avenue Subway. They cost US$100,000 (US$964,895 in 2013 dollars 16) each; the train became known as the 'million dollar train.' The cars featured porthole style round windows and a new public address system. Reflecting public health concerns of the day, especially regarding polio, the R11 cars were equipped with electrostatic air filters and ultraviolet lamps in their ventilation systems to kill germs.11, 17"posted by octobersurprise at 6:32 AM on June 18, 2013
I was pretty curious about this view, showing how effectively close to the foundations of these tall buildings this all was
That's the Camargue on 83rd and 2nd, if I'm not mistaken. The MTA has a huge installation there--it's like a fort. I can't wait for them to move on a couple of blocks.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:52 AM on June 18, 2013
That's the Camargue on 83rd and 2nd, if I'm not mistaken. The MTA has a huge installation there--it's like a fort. I can't wait for them to move on a couple of blocks.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:52 AM on June 18, 2013
Is this so deep that doing a cut and cover would be impossible (or at least very impractical)? I'm a fan of cut and cover because it tends to be cheaper and faster. (I also don't mind the loss of a street for a while, but this being the Upper East Side, cars seem less of an extravagance than most other places in Manhattan.)
posted by Hactar at 8:50 AM on June 19, 2013
posted by Hactar at 8:50 AM on June 19, 2013
I think it would have happened decades ago if cut-and-cover were at all possible. As it is, there are some segments where this would be the case, mostly outside of Phase I. In a sense the segments where you can see daylight are technically cut-and-cover, just really, really deep.
For one thing, it has to connect to both the N/Q/R at 60th and the F at 63rd, so it has to be deeper than the Lex line. For another, there are some elevation changes along the route, particularly at the northern end around 96th.
posted by dhartung at 4:59 AM on June 20, 2013
For one thing, it has to connect to both the N/Q/R at 60th and the F at 63rd, so it has to be deeper than the Lex line. For another, there are some elevation changes along the route, particularly at the northern end around 96th.
posted by dhartung at 4:59 AM on June 20, 2013
« Older "I hated Joni Mitchell - and then I loved her." | What's big, yellow, can open a door, and doesn't... Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Ad hominem at 6:49 PM on June 17, 2013