An MTA spokesperson says the pending shutdown of the L train tunnel that connects Manhattan and Brooklyn will not take as long as initially thought.

MTA Communications Director Beth DeFalco tweeted Friday night that the Canarsie Tunnel, which connects the L train from Manhattan to Brooklyn, will now be shut down for 15 months instead of 18.

Canarsie Tunnel closure now only 15 months instead of 1.5 years. Starts April 2019; better for L train riders all around — Beth DeFalco (@BethDeFalco) March 17, 2017

DeFalco says the shutdown will now begin in April 2019. It was originally scheduled to begin in January 2019.

The MTA is shutting down the L train tunnel in order to make necessary repairs to damage from Hurricane Sandy.

In order to complete the work, the agency considered two plans. The MTA chose the full shutdown of the line over a plan to stretch repair work across three years in order to allow limited service.

Service will be suspended between 14th Street-Eighth Avenue in Chelsea and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg.

