A video showing a subway stop flooding in Queens, New York, has caused the state attorney general’s office to scrutinize the work of two construction firms. According to an article in Crain’s New York, the office has launched an investigation into New Line Structures and Civetta Construction, the companies building a residential tower near the station.
The video shows water breaking through a temporary construction wall and gushing onto a subway platform. The flow of water was so strong, it nearly dragged a passenger into an oncoming train.
New York City Transit President Andy Byford told Crain’s the incident was “quite shocking.”
“That developer, unbeknownst to us, had removed a pump from the big pit that they were building as part of the construction,” Byford said during an MTA board meeting, according to Crain’s. “Which meant the pit filled up with water and the pressure eventually overwhelmed the hoarding that was there to protect the worksite.”
According to the article, the water immediately dissipated because the station’s drains were clear. Even so, people like Michael Gianaris, Long Island City’s rep. in the state Senate, have called for further investigation.
“People were nearly killed due to the negligence of a private corporation which must be held to account,” Gianaris said in a statement. “In situations like this, too much deference is typically afforded to faceless corporate entities to the detriment of the public.”
Source: Crain’s New York / Twitter
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