PHOTOS: MTA Performs Flood Door Testing at Hugh L. Carey and Queens Midtown Tunnels

See Photos of Flood Door Testing Here

MTA Bridges and Tunnels and MTA Construction and Development teams performed overnight flood door tests in the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel and Queens Midtown Tunnel as part of preparations for potential hurricanes or tropical storms.

Each door weighs 20-plus tons, is 29-feet wide, 14-feet high and nearly two-feet thick. In the event of a coastal storm, these doors provide the last line of defense, preventing water from infiltrating tunnels and causing extensive damage as was seen during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. Eight doors were installed in 2017 as part of the Agency's long-term flood mitigation program.

The doors can only be moved when the tunnel tube is fully closed to traffic. Future testing will take place on the following dates:

Hugh L. Carey Tunnel

• Monday, July 22 at 9:00 p.m. through Tuesday, July 23 at 5:00 a.m.
• Tuesday, July 23 at 9:00 p.m. through Wednesday, July 24 at 5:00 a.m.
• Wednesday, July 24 at 9:00 p.m. through Thursday, July 25 at 5:00 a.m.

Queens Midtown Tunnel

• Saturday, July 27 at 12:01 a.m. through 8:00 a.m.
• Sunday, July 28 at 1:00 a.m. through 9:00 a.m.
• Saturday, August 3 at 12:01 a.m. through 8:00 a.m.
• Sunday, August 4 at 1:00 a.m. through 9:00 a.m.

For real time updates on service changes, motorists can visit mta.info. Customers can sign up for real-time email and SMS alerts from MTA Bridges and Tunnels here.