How did they build the NYC subway underwater?

William Parsons, the project's chief engineer, used a variety of techniques for underwater digging. Sometimes hydraulic shields were used; other times methods were improvised, like digging a trench in the riverbed, then sinking the tunnel roof down on top of it. At least 7,700 men would be needed to build the IRT.



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Subway water tunnels are built approximately 30 feet below the riverbed.

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The four lines under the river are numbered south to north, lines 1 and 2 running beneath 32nd Street and Lines 3 and 4 under 33rd Street.

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William Parsons, the project's chief engineer, used a variety of techniques for underwater digging. Sometimes hydraulic shields were used; other times methods were improvised, like digging a trench in the riverbed, then sinking the tunnel roof down on top of it.

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Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan, it is served by the 1 train at all times. It is the deepest station in the New York City Subway system at about 173 feet (53 m) below street level.

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Many of the disused subway stations and tunnels running under NYC are closed to the public for safety reasons, but there are still ways to see them. In some cases, you can catch glimpses of disused subway tunnels or subway platforms while riding past on currently operating lines.

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Most tunnels are lined with something like stone or concrete that is strong in compression (i.e. something that can be squeezed a lot without crushing).

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In addition to the 665 miles of active subway tracks running beneath the city, the concrete hides an entire world of secret tunnels and subterranean spaces. If you dare to venture where the sun doesn't shine, some of these hidden worlds are open to explore on guided tours. Why does New York City have secret tunnels?

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Large portions of the subway outside Manhattan are elevated, on embankments, or in open cuts, and a few stretches of track run at ground level. In total, 40% of track is above ground.

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NYC Transit assistant chief of the Division of Stations Branko Kleva told Slate that the mysterious black gunk is actually a material called mastic, which the city has used to seal and waterproof the tunnel structures.

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Moscow - On Wednesday, Moscow opened the 70-km Big Circle Line (BCL), the longest subway line in the world. The metro line was constructed from 2011 to 2022. The first section of the BCL opened in 2018, and another 20-km section, the longest in the history of the capital's metro, was launched in December 2021.

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