Two weekends without the usual connection
L train service between Brooklyn and Manhattan will stop at 11:15 p.m. Friday and remain suspended until 5 a.m. Monday while the Metropolitan Transportation Authority performs communications upgrades and track work. The same closure is scheduled for the following weekend, from October 9 through October 12.
The affected segment runs from Lorimer Street in Brooklyn through Eighth Avenue in Manhattan. That removes L service at Bedford Avenue, across the East River and at every Manhattan stop along 14th Street during the work window. Riders should verify the plan in the MTA app or service-alert page before traveling because planned work can change.
Service continues within Brooklyn
L trains will continue to operate between Canarsie–Rockaway Parkway and Lorimer Street. The MTA’s alert lists daytime and evening trains approximately every eight minutes on that section, with Lorimer becoming the final stop. No L train will carry riders through the Canarsie Tunnel to Manhattan.
The authority is directing cross-river riders toward the A or J trains, with a transfer at Broadway Junction. That option may be most useful for passengers traveling from farther east in Brooklyn. Riders closer to Williamsburg have additional shuttle connections.
Shuttle buses and alternative routes
Free Brooklyn shuttle buses are scheduled to serve Lorimer Street/Metropolitan Avenue, Bedford Avenue, Marcy Avenue, Hewes Street and Broadway. Transfers to the J or M are available at Marcy or Hewes, while the G connects at Lorimer/Metropolitan and Broadway.
In Manhattan, the free L92 shuttle and M14A buses will cover portions of the 14th Street corridor and connect with the F, M and J at Delancey Street–Essex Street. The M train is also scheduled to extend to the 96th Street Q station, creating another connection between Myrtle–Wyckoff Avenues and Sixth Avenue.
Plan for accessibility and added time
A replacement route may involve a bus, a different station or more walking than the normal trip. The MTA notes that some alternatives may not provide the same accessible path as the closed station sequence. Riders who need an elevator-equipped route can use the MTA app or call 511 for trip-specific guidance.
Weekend street traffic can make bus travel less predictable, particularly around Williamsburg and the bridge approaches. Leaving extra time will matter for work shifts, theater reservations, rail connections and airport trips. A route that looks short on a map may require a wait and multiple transfers.
Why the outage is scheduled
The authority says the closure allows communications improvements and routine track maintenance to be completed while trains are out of the work zone. Combining tasks in one outage can reduce the number of separate disruptions, although two consecutive weekends create a significant burden for regular riders and neighborhood businesses.
The second closure includes the weekend leading into the October 12 holiday. Riders with Monday-morning plans should note that the published restoration time is 5 a.m., leaving little margin if work runs late. Checking the alert immediately before an early trip is especially important.
Visitors staying near Bedford Avenue should also avoid assuming that a nearby subway entrance guarantees a direct Manhattan ride. The station will be inside the suspended segment. Hotels, restaurants and event venues can help guests identify the nearest J, M, G or shuttle connection.
Normal cross-river service is scheduled to return at 5 a.m. Monday after each weekend. The most practical preparation is to choose an alternate subway route before leaving, keep the shuttle connections available and recheck the live alert close to departure.
Sources: MTA planned service changes; Bushwick Daily service summary. Schedule reviewed October 2, 2026.