Incredible photographs reveal the hidden world beneath New York's streets as the Second Avenue Subway and East Side Access lines continue construction


The MTA recently released never-before-seen photos of construction underground of the two major subway expansion projects that are underway- and have been for years at this point.



The two construction projects in question are the Second Avenue Subway line and the East Side Access project, both of which will dramatically improve accessibility for the millions of New Yorkers who live on the eastern side of Manhattan.



The pictures span the construction of the line from 2009 to as recent as this past December.



The East Side Access endeavor is being built so that the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) will have a stop on the east side, beneath Grand Central Station, giving passengers the option of getting out there before heading to Penn Station on the city's West Side, which is where the LIRR lines end currently.



The East Side Access line is expected to be operational and ready for hoards of commuters starting in 2019.



VIEW EAST SIDE ACCESS PICTURES (Scroll down for Second Avenue Subway photos)

Bringing people in: The East Side Access project (pictured) will allow for a Long Island Railroad stop on the East Side of the city

Heavy traffic: The East Side Access stop will be beneath Grand Central Terminal, which already serves as a hub for a handful of subway lines and the Metro North Railroad

Hardwork: Though there have been injuries among workers on the Second Avenue Subway (see the pictures further down in the story), there haven't been any reported among the East Side Access workers (pictured)

Equipment: Boots lined up for workers in the muddy underground construction site

Long road ahead: The East Side Access project is expected to be completed by 2019

Moving Eastward: At the moment, LIRR passengers are forced to get out at Penn Station on the West Side, but the East Side Access will change that

Saga: Both the East Side Access (pictured) and the Second Avenue Subway have been many years in the making, but the Second Avenue Subway wins as it has been discussed since 1929

SECOND AVENUE SUBWAY



As opposed to helping people get in and out of the city, the Second Avenue Subway's benefits will be more directly felt by those living in the five boroughs.



The line is often referred to as 'The Line That Time Forgot' because it has been an on-again off-again city project since 1929.



When it is completed in 2016, it will be the first new subway line added to the city since 1932.

The estimated total cost of the project is $17 billion.



Lately, construction on the line has been getting some negative attention after a series of accidents.



In March, firefighters were called to the construction site to pry a worker, 51-year-old Joseph Barone, out of quicksand-like muck. It took them four hours to get him out and treat his injuries.



Last August, back-to-back 'controlled' explosions sent debris shooting onto the street like mortars.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration is currently investigating three incidents on the Second Ave Subway line construction site.

LOOK AT 'THE LINE THAT TIME FORGOT' HERE

Less traffic: The $4.5 billion project will hopefully decrease commuter congestion in east Manhattan by adding another line going from North to South

Almost finished: The line is projected to be finished by December 2016, but it has taken them several decades to reach this point

The T line: When finished the Second Avenue line will be called the T. Other options considered were the letters O, I, H, K, P, U, and Y

Never ending: A recent episode of Mad Men made fun of the famously unfinished line when a real estate agent talked about how property values would go up when the line was finished



