Project Overview
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completed the restoration of the Hammels Wye Viaduct, a critical rail junction on the Rockaway Line, as part of the Rockaway Line Resiliency and Rehabilitation Project.
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) completed the restoration of the Hammels Wye Viaduct, a critical rail junction on the Rockaway Line, as part of the Rockaway Line Resiliency and Rehabilitation Project. This $392 million initiative, launched in 2022 and led by general contractor Schiavone Construction Co. with EXP Services P.C. as the lead designer, aimed to repair infrastructure damaged due to decades of wear and storm. The reconstruction also offered enhance resiliency against future maintenance requirements. The project necessitated a 17-week, 24/7 service shutdown from January 17 to May 19, 2025, to facilitate intensive work, including the demolition and rebuilding of the viaduct with 250 tons of steel, 1,600 feet of rail, 37 steel girders, 700 concrete ties, 856 tons of stone ballast and nearly a mile of safety railing.A key component of the project was the safety railing system, where Hollaender Manufacturing’s Speed-Rail® structural pipefittings, made in the USA, played an integral role. These fittings, provided through subcontractor Beach Erectors, were critical to the modular design of the safety railings. Speed-Rail®’s aluminum-magnesium alloy fittings, known for their corrosion resistance and strength-to-weight ratio, enabled rapid assembly without welding. This modular approach, combined with Hollaender’s in-house engineering support, allowed for precise, custom configurations that met the project’s stringent safety and structural requirements. Speed-Rail®’s durability and ease of installation were pivotal in enabling Schiavone and Beach Erectors to adhere to the aggressive 17-week timeline, as the system’s flexibility minimized on-site adjustments and accelerated construction. Tucker Murphy, the Project Executive overseeing the Hammels Wye construction for Beach Erectors said, “Hollaender's Speed-Rail® components were a game changer for Beach Erector’s work at Hammels Wye. All the components are 100% made in the USA, which meant quick lead-times. The modular engineering designs provided by Hollaender's team also made for shortened install times in the field
