NEW YORK CITY-In what City Council Speaker Christine Quinn onThursday called “a great day for the West Side and the future ofNew York City,” the year-long tunneling project on the Number 7subway line expansion was completed. City officials held a ceremonymarking the completion of the first phase of a $2.1-billion projectto bring the subway line to what will eventually be the HudsonYards redevelopment.

“For decades, people have talked about the Hudson Yards onManhattan's Far West Side as a potential opportunity to provide newoffice space, housing, parks and jobs adjacent to the world’spremier business district, but nothing ever happened,” says MayorMichael Bloomberg in a statement. “We’re acting to make sure thatit does.”

Up next will be work on station entrances and finishes andsupport facilities such as ventilation and traction powersubstations. The new service is expected to open in December 2013,according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.