Subway Service Resumes After Awning Collapse At NYC Station

BROOKLYN, NY — Subway trains are back on track this morning at Brooklyn’s Clark Street station after a massive awning collapse blocked the entrance and shut down service.

City Councilman Lincoln Restler said the Department of Buildings had closed the Clark Street station as a safety precaution until the other marquee above the entrance could be secured. By 6:45 a.m. today, the DOB gave the green light to reopen, and the MTA expects subway access to resume shortly.

The closure began after a roughly 10-by-20-foot awning at St. George Tower near 100 Henry Street collapsed Sunday morning. While officials confirmed no injuries, Restler highlighted that the Clark Street entrance has long suffered issues like sewage odors, grime and hazardous heat.

The subway station entrance was closed from Sunday afternoon through Monday over safety concerns, officials said. The MTA rerouted the No. 2 and No. 3 trains to skip Clark Street, urging riders to use nearby Borough Hall instead.

The Department of Buildings declared the canopy on the Clark Street side unsafe, keeping the station and local businesses closed until at least one entrance is cleared to reopen. Restler said his office joined the DOB, MTA, and NYC Emergency Management on-site yesterday to craft a plan for quickly restoring access to the station and small businesses in the Clark Street lobby.

Crews worked late into the night reinforcing temporary scaffolding at the Clark Street entrance. However, removing debris from the collapsed Henry Street marquee will take longer—progress slowed because the St. George property owner has not responded to government agencies, Restler said.

Just two days before the collapse, Restler toured the Clark Street Station with NYC Transit President Demetrius Crichlow and his senior team. He highlighted longstanding frustrations among Brooklyn officials over the station’s poor conditions.

In a recent update, Restler said the MTA has committed to starting renovations next month to upgrade the mezzanine and platform areas. They’ve also installed new parabolic mirrors to improve sightlines for riders, and funding has been secured for additional security cameras.

"I am hopeful that this near catastrophe will finally force the St. George landlord to take substantial action to improve our collective experience at Clark St.," Restler added.