MTA New York City Transit is preparing to rebuild two crucial sections of the line in Brooklyn and Queens in order to ensure that two decades-old deteriorating overpasses remain safe for travel.

The vital construction will occur at two sections: a metal bridge between the Fresh Pond Rd and Middle Village-Metropolitan Av stations will require a two-month shutdown. The work will begin in summer 2017 in order to cause the least possible disruption for students at nearby Christ the King Regional High School.

The second section of construction will occur at the century-old concrete viaduct that carries the line between the Myrtle Av and Central Av stations. That section will be shut down for 10 months beginning in summer 2017.

“These temporary closures are vital to the long term viability of the line in Brooklyn and Queens,” said NYC Transit President Veronique 'Ronnie' Hakim. “Both of these structures have deteriorated to the point that there is simply no other option than complete replacement, and undergoing this step will ensure a safe, more reliable experience for customers for decades to come. We will work closely with the affected communities, their elected officials and other representatives to minimize the disruption and address their concerns, and we will do our utmost to complete this work as quickly as possible.”

In order to ensure that the line and supporting infrastructure remain safe - the MTA's top priority - this work cannot be postponed because the structures have already severely deteriorated. The construction calls for rebuilding both sections using new material that will last longer than the original material, which is considered subpar by today's building standards. The work will also include replacing steel girders, track beds and the platforms that carry the tracks. Because both structures are being completely replaced, the work requires the entire shutdown of the line during the construction.

"The 103 year-old Bushwick viaduct was not built to last forever. It remains safe for subway riders today but severe deterioration of the concrete deck and other components require that it be replaced,” Hakim said.

Contingency Plans for Customers

The MTA will offer robust shuttle bus service and subway service changes to customers affected by the closures.

Phase 1:

In the first phase of work during summer 2017, there will be no service between Myrtle Av and Middle Village-Metropolitan Av for two months (nearby Christ the King Regional High School will not be in session during this time).

Two new shuttle bus routes will serve closed stations along the line, while a third shuttle bus route will operate between the Flushing Av station and the Middle Village-Metropolitan Av station with an intermediate stop at the Jefferson St station.

Phase 2:

When the metal bridge has been replaced, the second phase of work will commence for eight more months until spring 2018. During this phase, an shuttle will run between Middle Village-Metropolitan Av and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs, where customers can transfer to the train. The Knickerbocker Av and Central Av stations on the line will remain closed during this period, and will be served by a shuttle bus between Myrtle Av and Myrtle-Wyckoff Avs. Those stations are also within a 10-minute walk of alternate subway stations on the and lines.

During the shutdown, trains to and from Manhattan will be rerouted along the and tracks from Marcy Av to Broadway Junction, though peak hour frequency will be reduced by 25 percent. To accommodate displaced customers, and trains will make all stops between Marcy Av and Broadway Junction, while trains will operate at peak frequency for extended durations each day.

Line Facts:

The train serves 60,000 customers on an average weekday between the Myrtle Av and Middle Village-Metropolitan Av stations. Ridership at the seven stations along that branch has grown 53 percent since 2000.

The most up-to-date information on MTA service status is always available at www.mta.info. For immediate notice of service changes, sign up for email or text alerts at www.mymtaalerts.com. For weekend subway service changes, visit www.mta.info/weekender.