Ductile Iron Trench Grates and Frames for Times Square by EJ

Time Passages Prove EJ Quality in Times Square

It has been three years since EJ took centre stage in New York's Times Square, home to many theatres and attractions, and the world-famous illuminated billboards. This area is a major tourist hub and receives 45 million visitors each year.

The dramatic, historic transformation of the 2,800sqm public space was re-designated pedestrian only, and it now houses some 360 metres of ductile iron trench grates and frames by EJ. 300 pieces of EJ ductile iron trench grates were provided in 1.2 metre assemblies, along with 21 other custom-cut sections and 18 specially designed end-frame pieces.

Earlier this month, after years of refurbishment, the new 2.1 hectare Times Square was officially opened. Attending the opening ceremony was Craig Dykers from architecture firm Snøhetta whose team formulated the redesign, landscaped and literally doubled the pedestrian footprint of the world famous Square.

"Times Square's popularity over the years had made it somewhat unsafe, polluted and sometimes uninviting," Dykers told journalists at the opening event. "To some people it lost its authenticity."

"One of the things we realised very quickly was that fixing Times Square was less about adding things, and more about taking things away," said Dykers. "There was a great deal of obsolete and redundant infrastructure here when we started."