NYC Protects Subway System: MTA Retrofits Fan Plants Against Storm Surges
New York City is taking steps to safeguard its subway system from storm surges, following the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has completed plans to retrofit fan plants, which provide ventilation for the subway system but also allowed water to reach tunnels during the storm. An engineer from Arup, the firm hired to design the retrofits, presented the project at a conference in Washington, D.C.
The MTA aims to protect fan plants against 12 feet (4 meters) of flooding, which should withstand a category 2 hurricane and offer an additional 3-foot (1-meter) margin of protection. Each fan plant will have a unique solution, such as floating gates or walls to keep out water, and buildings will be tied down to prevent them from floating away during storms. Work on retrofitting these plants could start as early as next summer.
While more expansive solutions like flood gates require political will and available resources, focusing on individual structures is a necessary approach until larger projects are feasible. New York City officials are also planning to fortify buildings to prevent flooding that crippled the subway system during Sandy.
The MTA's retrofitting plans for fan plants are complete, with each plant receiving a tailored solution to safeguard against storm surges. Work is expected to begin next summer, contributing to the city's ongoing efforts to fortify its infrastructure against future storms.
Read also:
- Planned construction of enclosures within Görlitzer Park faces delays
- Controversy resurfaces following the elimination of diesel filter systems at Neckartor: A renewed conflict over the diesel restriction policy
- Christoph Nußbaumeder's 'Das Herz von allem' Explores Freedom in a Philosophical Adventure
- Renewable energy sources take over nuclear power and decrease overall emissions concurrently
