Construction is well underway on the rehabilitation of the Bleecker Street Subway Station in New York City. The project involves several important challenges: a 300 foot extension of the IRT uptown platform; a new connection between the IRT uptown and Broadway-Lafayette IND subway lines; ADA access; safety upgrades; and streamlined connections. For subway riders, the results of this project will be significant as well. Passengers traveling from Brooklyn and lower Manhattan to the Upper West and East Sides will enjoy the new northbound IND/IRT connection, a convenience available for the first time. An escalator and four elevators bring new accessibility to this station. The $94 million project is a joint venture with Weidlinger Associates. Completion is forecast for November, 2011.

The station’s appearance will also undergo an important transformation. The original historical artifacts and wall finishes will be carefully restored: white ceramic tile, blue terra cotta plaques and faience, mosaic bands and roman brick wainscoting with marble caps. All eight of the original “Bleecker Station” terra cotta name plaques will be repaired and restored.