Yisroel R.

Monday morning commuters faced major subway disruptions after damage discovered beneath the tracks forced the MTA to limit service on the A, B, C, and D lines through Manhattan.

The problem was uncovered during planned weekend construction at the 81st Street–Museum of Natural History station along Central Park West, where crews found cracks beneath the track bed while demolishing and replacing sections of track.

The discovery prompted significant changes for the Monday morning rush. Downtown local service was suspended between 125th Street and 59th Street–Columbus Circle, with downtown B and C trains running express and skipping local stops through the affected stretch.

Uptown A, B, C, and D trains were also running with delays, while uptown B and C trains continued making local stops throughout Manhattan.

The MTA urged riders traveling through the corridor to consider using the 1, 2, and 3 lines as alternatives while crews worked to keep service moving around the damaged section.

Crews began temporary repairs Sunday evening and continued working through the night into Monday morning. Permanent repairs to the damaged track bed are expected to be scheduled for a later date.

The disruption added an unexpected headache to the start of the workweek for riders using several of Manhattan’s busiest subway lines.