Harold Interlocking

Reconstruction work on Harold Interlocking started in 2009, as part of the East Side Access project to bring LIRR service to a new station under Grand Central Terminal.

As part of the project, two tunnels for Northeast Corridor trains to bypass Harold Interlocking were built to reduce congestion and accidents.

The complexity of the junction and the large volume of traffic have caused frequent delays and occasional accidents.

[5] The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) began construction of several infrastructure improvements to the junction area in 2009, but a major project to redesign and rebuild the interlocking required additional funding.

[9] The work will allow for a grade-separated route between the East River Tunnels and the Hell Gate Bridge for Amtrak trains traveling to or from New England, thus avoiding LIRR traffic.