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(Governor's Office)

FILE - A contractor works at the Second Avenue Subway construction project in New York. The Second Avenue Subway will eventually serve Manhattan's far East Side, from Harlem to the island’s southern tip. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he is "cautiously optimistic" that the long-delayed Second Avenue subway will open early in the New Year. [SEE PHOTOS]

The Democratic Cuomo tweeted the remark after surveying the new East Side subway line Friday.

He said: "Good news: the progress is encouraging." He said he was "cautiously optimistic" about hitting a deadline of Jan. 1.

Construction on the Second Avenue line began in 2007. Under the first phase of the project, trains will run from 63rd Street to 96th Street.

The second phase will extend the line up to 125th Street. The agency reportedly says it will be delayed beyond 2019.