New York officials open new Briarwood/Van Wyck subway entrance

The reconstructed Briarwood/Van Wyck subway entrance has been opened for MTA New York City Transit's E and F lines, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald announced yesterday.

The new entrance is part of NYSDOT's $265 million investment in operational improvements at the Kew Gardens Interchange in central Queens, N.Y. Located on the north side of Queens Boulevard over the Van Wyck Expressway, the subway entrance was reconstructed so the expressway could be widened in both the northbound and southbound directions at the location, NYSDOT officials said in a press release.

The new subway entrance features a modern design with a stylized glass and stainless steel canopy; a widened staircase; enhanced tunnel lighting; and new tile walls and flooring. Future work will include new landscaping, sidewalks, concrete pavement, lighting and an elevator that's compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The elevator is scheduled to open in fall 2015.