City's Six Years of 23-Hour Workdays Violate Environmental Review Laws 

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinatown seniors and community leaders announced a lawsuit to stop the City's years of planned overnight construction of the long-delayed Manhattan "Megajail." The Article 78 petition cites the City's new construction plan, which began on October 13th, and together with the overnight deliveries, consists of 23 hours of round-the-clock activity immediately next to a senior residence and across the street from small businesses, tenement apartments, a daycare facility, medical offices, and community cinema. As part of the project's public approval process, the City's environmental review only outlined normal construction hours of 7 AM to 3:30 PM, with occasional work lasting until 6 PM during weekdays only.

The City's updated construction plan presented to the community on October 6 asks Chinatown residents to endure six years of work from 6 AM to midnight, including drilling from 6 PM to 10 PM Monday through Friday, with large equipment and materials deliveries taking place until 5:30 AM. Construction crews will work from 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays to accelerate construction after years of project delays.

This updated construction schedule has caused a flood of 3-1-1 noise complaints, traffic jams, and community calls to elected officials, despite the City's noise mitigation measures. The jail is slated to be completed by 2032, five years after the mandated deadline to close Rikers. 

According to the City's presentation, the years of planned nighttime work will consist of pile drilling, water shutoffs, steel erection, welding, formwork, oversized truck deliveries, among other activities that will cause noise, dust, and vibrations.

Overnight construction is the latest in a string of complications for the project. Veteran architect William Bialosky warned in the Daily News that the years of dewatering needed to build on the site sitting atop the former Collect Pond risks destabilizing and harming the foundation of surrounding historic buildings.

In a town hall hosted by Welcome to Chinatown and Neighbors United Below Canal Street, NYU researchers presented data showing elevated air pollution surrounding the site, missing from the demolition contractor's air quality data.

Welcome to Chinatown, a neighborhood 501c3 non-profit, launched a GoFundMe campaign for supporters and concerned New Yorkers to contribute to their legal fight to stop overnight construction.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinatown-seniors-community-leaders-sue-to-end-years-of-planned-nighttime-construction-to-complete-delayed-manhattan-megajail-302918112.html

SOURCE Welcome to Chinatown