Construction seems to be moving along on the High Line, the 1930s rail viaduct in Chelsea that's being converted to a park, as we were given a tour earlier this week and snapped a few photos along the way. Section 1, which runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street, is slated to open before the end of the year, and, as pictured, the walkways are being put into place with the vegetation to follow [preliminary renderings of Section 1 are available here].

Later this month, Friends of the High Line, the mastermind group behind the whole venture, is planning to release designs for Section 2, which runs up to 28th Street. Section 3, which runs into the West Side rail yards, will be designed by the Related Companies as part of its development of the yards.

More photos after the jump.  read more »

A few statements from various politicians and organizations, including Friends of the High Line and State Senator Tom Duane, about the selection of Tishman Speyer as developer of the 26-acre West Side rail yards:  read more »