Station: Lexington Avenue-59th Street (Broadway Line)
From nycsubway.org
| BMT Broadway Line |
Overview
Opened: 3/11/1920
Transfer here to: IRT East Side Line
Two tracks, one island platform. When first planned, the 60th Street Subway was to be a line over the 59th Street (Queensborough) Bridge. To ease the ramp-up to the bridge, there were to be two one-track stations, under 59th and 60th Street. When plans changed to make the line a tunnel to Queens, for political reasons, the northern station, in 60th Street, was expanded to two tracks and the southern one was abandoned while under construction. The crossunder at 59th Street between the platforms of the IRT line utilizes part of the original BMT station construction. In October 1973, a platform extension eastward opened, along with a new exit to 3rd Avenue and 60th Street. Two escalators and a stairway lead to the new mezzanine at this end of the station.
This station has been renovated and features small red "Lex" mosaics in the tile. There are crossovers which connect to the IRT East Side local and crossunders which connect to the IRT East Side express. The station has high ceilings and in places the fare control rails overlook the tracks.
Artwork
Blooming, Elizabeth Murray (1996)
Photo Gallery
 Image 39507 (105k, 640x480) Photo by: Oren H. Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 41162 (75k, 864x612) Photo by: D. Reinecke Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 50133 (161k, 1044x705) Photo by: Richard Panse Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 54326 (120k, 820x615) Photo by: Steffen Petrasch Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 63215 (179k, 1044x788) Photo by: John Barnes Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 68334 (130k, 800x600) Photo by: Robert Marrero Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 78685 (129k, 820x620) Photo by: Gary Chatterton Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 78827 (134k, 1044x790) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 78830 (138k, 1044x790) Photo by: Michael Hodurski Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 82063 (195k, 1044x699) Photo by: John Barnes Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 86001 (256k, 1044x791) Photo by: Aliandro Brathwaite Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 89227 (175k, 1044x699) Photo by: John Barnes Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 91478 (242k, 1044x788) Photo by: Paul P. Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 107637 (116k, 1024x768) Photo by: Robbie Rosenfeld Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
 Image 130563 (335k, 1044x703) Photo by: Bill E. Location: Lexington Avenue (59th Street) |
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