I recently noticed this sign in the Franklin Street 1 station. Two years and $18.4 million to modify the entrances to accommodate flood-proof barriers at six stations. Seems like a lot, no? No idea if they will be closing them down or what in the meantime. —R.

Leaving aside the question of whether the cost is appropriate—because heck if I know—let’s focus on what the construction entails. “This project is part of our ongoing efforts to fortify the system against future severe weather events after Sandy,” emailed an MTA rep in response to my query, pointing out that a description of the work is on the MTA’s Capital Dashboard:

This project will furnish and install flood protection measures on public stairwells at six subway stations in Upper and Lower Manhattan that are vulnerable to Coastal Storm Flooding. The featured protection is retractable tension fabric barriers (Flexgate).

The stations affected are Franklin Street and Canal Street (1); Canal Street (N/Q/R); Canal Street (A/C/E); Canal Street (6); 145th Street (3). There’s no timeline yet for the work. The MTA said that they’ll try to make it as easy on us as possible:

We do not close entire stations for work on stairwells unless the stairwell work is part of an overall station renewal project where major and critical parts of the station are under repair (platform work, for example). We also do not close stairwells for work during certain hours of the day—we close stairwells during specific hours if they lead only to part-time exits, for example.

As for exactly what’s happening, here’s a description from the ILC Dover Stairwell Flex-Gate Brochure (via this page): “The Flex-Gate functions similarly to a roll-up storefront security door in that it resides in a small container and is pulled across the opening when an event occurs. The flexible cover travels in guides during deployment, and seals against them when challenged with water.” This rendering helps:

And then here’s a step-by-step description of how it works:

1. Open tamperproof step and guiderail plates.
2. Crank cover to closed position using supplied ratchet.
3. Lock end sealing plate & deploy entrance guard
4. Reverse procedure to open system

From an ILC Dover press release: “In less than five minutes a single operator can deploy the cover and lock it down, and once deployed, the engineered system can hold back 14 feet of water. This rapidly deployable approach eliminates the need to store critical components at a remote location, and allows the subway system to remain operational for as long as possible prior to the storm onset.”

Got a question? Email it to tribecacitizen@gmail.com or call/text 917-209-6473.

Previous Nosy Neighbor posts:
• What are those doodads on 60 Vestry?
• What’s happening on Pier 26?
• What’s up with the exposed wall at 111 Murray?
• What’s going on under Nobu Next Door?
• When will the buses on Warren return to Chambers?
• What’s inside the base of 7 World Trade Center?
• What’s Untitled on Lispenard?
• What’s getting built now at Canal and Varick?
• What’s that concrete thing at 443 Greenwich?
• What’s in the ground-level space at 11 Warren?
• What’s the Supermarket?
• What’s getting built on top of 20 Warren?
• What is Citigroup doing to its building?
• What’s happening at 172 Duane?
• What’s the restaurant opening at 9 Maiden Lane?
• Are these new trees dying?
• Is the Odeon lowering its bar?
• What’s that on top of the New Museum?
• What’s that new building next to 30 Park Place?
• Why are there strollers left overnight at Tribeca Pediatrics?
• Is this rooftop addition legal?
• Who’s painting those faces all over?
• What’s moving into 415 Broadway?
• What are those panels on the sanitation garage?
• How many fake restaurants are on Seamless?
• Is a 60-story hotel going up on W. Broadway?
• Why is 15 Warren painted that way?
• Where do Laughing Man’s profits go?
• Are dogs allowed at outdoor restaurant tables?
• When will FiOS come to Tribeca?
• What’s up with 60 Hudson?
• What goes on at 444 Greenwich?
• Why are Goldman Sachs’s lights always on?
• What’s the story with the Batmobile?
• Who’s responsible for the snowflake lights?
• Is 93 Reade adding a floor?
• Is 28 N. Moore going residential?
• Why does cobblestoning require sprinklers?
• Do newspaper boxes need permits?
• Why does 161 Duane say “Whalebone”?
• What’s the story behind those Harrison townhouses?
• What are those white things at 137 Franklin?
• What’s that thing at W. Broadway and Leonard?
• What happens to old cobblestones?
• Are buses allowed to idle on Laight?
• What’s happening with the Verizon building?
• Is N. Moore getting cobblestoned?
• Can you recommend any Tribeca picture books?
• Why are those shuttles on Greenwich?
• Who enforces sidewalk-café regulations?
• What’s going on at 27 Desbrosses?
• What are those black pellets on Pier 25?
• What do the characters on 47 Vestry mean?
• What’s up with those Verizon carts?
• Where was the original Blues Bar?
• Who are the guys in the geeky pants?
• Can we walk on the West Street medians?
• What’s going on in 157 Hudson?
• What is this P.C. Richard & Son Theater I keep hearing about?
• What’s the story behind the lights at 289 Church?
• What’s the Dream House at 275 Church?
• How come every every film and TV shoot seems to have a trailer with doors marked “Lucy” and “Desi”?