MANHATTAN — West Siders who endure a blocks-long hike to the subway on a daily basis are one stop closer to having the train come to them.
The MTA announced that work will begin this month to complete an extension of the 7 train into Hell's Kitchen.
The $2.1 billion project will extend the line west to a new station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue. The train currently runs between Flushing, Queens and Times Square.
The new subway station will be the only one in Manhattan west of Ninth Avenue in the area south of 59th Street.
A second station at Tenth Avenue and 41st Street was originally in the works but was dropped from plans in October 2007.
Tunnels for the extension were completed last year. Two contractors, Skanska USA and the RailWorks Corporation have been awarded a $513.7 million contract to lay tracks, build signals, and equip the new station with elevators, escalators, and power.
Work on the long-awaited extension began in 2007. The Hudson Yards Development Corporation is providing funding for the final phase of construction. The arrival of the 7 train is a major step forward in the organization's plans to turn the area around the new station into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood.
The MTA expects to open the new station by December 2013.
