Repairs on 7 subway shuts down weekend service at Times Square, Queensboro Plaza

NEW YORK (WABC) -- Service on the 7 subway will be suspended this weekend between Times Square/42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza.

While number 7 suspensions started earlier this month, this is the first weekend when service will be suspended in that area. The suspension will affect service between 2 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday for the next four weekends.

In all, there will be suspensions on 11 weekends between January and late March.

The MTA agreed to suspend the 7 line construction on two weekends in February (weekends of the 14th and the 21st) to coincide with the lunar new year.

The MTA has three major projects from Times Square to Flushing involving the installation of a new signals system; communications-based train control; and the replacement of old track and reconstruction of a tunnel beneath the East River, part of which was damaged during Superstorm Sandy.

Some western Queens residents and businesses are fed up with service disruptions, said City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Queens). It's not just the planned construction work, but regular equipment malfunctions too, he said.

ALTERNATIVES FOR 7 SUBWAY RIDERS:

Use E,F,N,Q subways between Manhattan and Queens.

Free shuttle buses will make all stops between Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue, and Queensboro Plaza.

The 42nd Street S subway operates overnight. Q service is extended to Ditmars Boulevard from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.

From 2 a.m. Saturday, to 4:30 a.m. Monday, Flushing-Main Street-bound 7 trains run express from Queensboro Plaza to 74 St-Broadway.

Full list of suspensions