West Side Highway wall repairs to begin overnight

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Emergency repair work will begin Wednesday night to remove the facade on a retaining wall along the West Side Highway.

One northbound lane of the highway at 125th Street remains shut down, slowing the evening rush for the second night in a row.

Crews are checking to make sure the retaining wall is secure. They believe it is a facade issue and is not in danger of collapse.

However, out of an abundance of caution, workers will remove the decorative veneer that is pulling away from the wall, which was built in 1930.

According to the Department of Transportation, starting at 10:00 p.m. Wednesday there will be lane closures in the northbound direction of the Henry Hudson Parkway, from West 110th Street to West 127th Street.

At least one lane will remain open to traffic.

On Tuesday night, two lanes of the highway were shut down during rush hour. Traffic was backed up for miles.

This is above Amtrak trains, which are not affected.

In 2005, a major portion of a retaining wall collapsed near 183rd Street because of heavy rain. The collapse caused major detours for several months.

The DOT says future northbound closures are as follows:

--From 10:00 P.M. to 7:00 A.M. on the evenings of Wednesday, April 6, Thursday, April 7 and Friday, April 8

--From 1:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 9

--From 11:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 9 to 9:00 A.M. on Sunday, April 10

Motorists should anticipate the following detours:

--Closure of the 96th Street entrance ramp to the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway and detour of traffic along Riverside Drive and West End Avenue.

--Use of the 125th Street exit ramp off the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway as detour for traffic

Variable message signs will be installed and traffic control agents will be posted to direct traffic to alternate routes. Suggested alternatives for northbound travel include 12th Avenue, Broadway and Riverside Drive.