The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced over the next five consecutive weekends, crews will raise the height of the bridge that carries the LIRR Hempstead Branch over Cherry Valley Ave. in Garden City, N.Y. With a posted height of just 10’4”, the overpass is struck by over height vehicles more than any other in the LIRR system. Additionally, the right-of-way at Cathedral Ave., the railroad crossing east of Cherry Valley Ave., will be rebuilt on the weekend of March 25-26.

The bridge will be raised 12 inches at a time (a total of 36 inches) over three consecutive weekends starting March 4-5. On the final weekend of work, April 1-2, a new rail bridge will be installed with a clearance of 14 feet 5 inches.

Raising the height of the bridge is intended to reduce strikes by over height trucks, which pose a safety risk for drivers and delay train service. Following any incident, trains operate with slow speed orders while LIRR bridge inspectors travel to the bridge to ensure it is safe to operate at full speed.

-via Press Release