SEE IT: First-Ever Rendering Of 2nd Ave East Harlem Subway Extension

EAST HARLEM, NY — The second phase of the long-stalled Second Avenue Subway extension into East Harlem is taking its next step, and the first renderings of the exterior and interior of the newly planned 125th Street Station were revealed, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday morning.

The MTA is moving the plan forward by starting the process to find its first contract for the construction of the future extension of the Second Avenue Subway to 125th Street.

As part of the announcement, the MTA also unveiled new conceptual renderings of the proposed stations for the extension.

"As part of my administration's efforts to advance transit equity across New York State, the Second Avenue Subway project will expand critical public transportation service to East Harlem, creating more opportunity for residents," Hochul said in a news release. "We remain committed to keeping this long-envisioned project moving along swiftly for East Harlem, and I am proud to see it moving one step closer to reality."

The work expected in the second phase of the project will "lay the groundwork for advancing construction of three future stations and necessary system infrastructure."

The solicitation for the project has been posted, and a contract is expected to be awarded in the fall, with work then beginning by the end of 2023.

The extension into East Harlem is projected to cost a staggering $7.7 billion.

The money and construction work will go toward extending the Second Avenue subway line from East 96th Street to new stations at East 106th Street, to another new stop at East 116th Street, and then to a new level at the already operating station at Lexington Avenue and East 125th Street.

The MTA built tunnels on Second Avenue between East 99th and 105th Streets, as well as between East 110th and 120th streets in the 1970s, but the city's financial crisis in 1975 put a stop to the work.

Those underground Harlem tunnels still sit unused 48 years later.

The first phase of the Second Avenue subway line opened in 2017 after a decade of construction that cost $4.4 billion to fund.

Here are the conceptional renderings revealed Wednesday of the new station.