That curved steel structure being built near Queens Plaza is the ESA's Plaza Substation

Image source: NYMTACC – looking south along the N/Q line

If you’ve wondered what that tall, curved steel structure is being built near the turn of the N/Q train near Queens Plaza, wonder no more – is the skeleton of the Plaza Substation, part of the MTA’s East Side Access (ESA) Project. It’s also known as the Plaza Bulk Facility Power Substation (B10). It is expected to be completed by June 2013, slightly earlier than first expected, and the MTA says that this means it will be a less risky project to the overall ESA program.

In case you’re also wondering how much this part of the ESA costs, the contract award is for $147,377,000. It does contain funding from the Federal Transit Administration.

Here is a map from the MTA to help visualize the area and where the power substation will be in context with the area (click to enlarge).