Daily News from New York, New York • 455

sw Ira) DM By TARA GEORGE Terminal ready after 4 yrs. 200M Daily News Staff Writer Like stagehands preparing for opening night, construction workers yesterday frantically readied Grand Central Terminal for tomorrow's celebration of the building's $200 million makeover. Stonemasons knocked stubborn tiles into place. Cleaners wiped dust off newly restored banisters. And technicians rehearsed a laser-light show across the magnificent celestial ceiling.

It's taken four years of dust, noise and congestion to restore the 85-year-old terminal to its former glory. But most commuters interviewed yesterday agreed that the results were worth the wait "It's beautiful," said Brian Tobin, 22, of Connecticut To-bin regularly commutes through the station. "It's brand-new," he said. "But it's didn't realize they were gilt until they began cleaning. Some half a million people pass through Grand Central every day, and yet it has a serenity to it Commuters who lingered to admire the building's new features yesterday winced when reminded the station would have been turned into a skyscraper if it hadn't been lor the intervention of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

"It's a refuge," said John Bassano, 58, a lawyer from Scarsdale. "The ceiling, the height, the sense of space, they all put you in your place." One acclaimed architectural achievement was to restore the antiquated features of the building while adding some 120 retail outlets. Many of these stores have already moved in. Michael Jordan's The Steak House NYC has opened. There's a Starbucks operating at full tilt, and handy cash machines are operating at GreenPoint Bank.

The remaining shops are expected to be in place by the end of the year. still old-looking. There's still a mystique to it." Restorers have ripped up fake walls and exposed concealed windows to introduce more light and space to the building. The Sky Ceiling above the main concourse has been cleaned of layers of grime, soot and nicotine, eliminating the permanent night sky. The architects left a small patch of darkness in the northwest corner of the fresh green ceiling to show the contrast left by their work.

A sweeping, new marble staircase the East Stairs is the most dramatic addition. It was included in the original blueprints, but never built Architectural protocol requires renovators to leave evidence of their work, so the staircase won't be an exact replica of the one on the other side. Melon-shaped chandeliers hanging above the ramps leading down to the Oyster Bar are gleaming gold. They were so dirty before, the restorers Haaasjt Sfy i turn, I BALCONY 10. Papyrus: Retailstationery.

Opens winter. BALCONY 10. Papyrus: Retailstationery. Opens winter. pi iJ ft h- Mr1 est i 1-4" T'd 1 TT 1.

The Campbell Apartment: Restaurantbar. Opens early winter. 2. Cipriani's Dolce: Lounge. Opens early winter.

3. Michael Jordan's The Steak House NYC: Upscale restaurant. Open. 4. Metrazur: Mediterranean restaurant.

Opens early winter. MAIN CONCOURSE 5. Discovery Channel Shop. Opens early winter. Posman Books.

Opens early winter. Freyboy: CigarInternet lounge. Open. 6. Banana Republic.

Retail Opens late fall. 7. Vanderbitt Hall: Seasonal markets and events Opens tomorrow 8. Kenneth Cole, J.Peterman: Retail. Opens late fall.

9. Joon: Retail. Opens winter. 11. Addison on Madison: Men's shirts.

Opens winter. 12. Children's General Store: Toys. Open. 13.

Toto: Retail. Opens winter. 14. Godiva: Open. 15.

Starbucks: Open. 16. The Watch Station: Retail. Open. 17.

Michael Eigan: Jewelry. Open. 18. Vermont Candle: Open. 19.

Grand Central Optical. Reopens late fall. GRAYBAR PASSAGE 20. 43rd Street Marketplace. Opens early 1999.

21. Grand Harvest Wine. Opens late winter. 22. 43rd St.Lex.

Ave. Entrance Opens tomorrow 23. The East Stairs Opens tomorrow DINING CONCOURSE 24. 20 restaurants to begin opening In winter. DAILY NEWS SUSAN WATTS DAILY NFWS LADDER CREW: Workmen team up to put finishing touches on Grand Central Terminal before tomorrow's celebration.

MirdDDs be boosted art mMGmssmgs The downside is that despite the drop, more folks 260 in the first six months of the program, compared with 250 over the same period a year earlier were injured in accidents. Ascher said officials are so happy with the program that in the coming weeks they plan to expand it to 10 officers from six. That will allow the agency to have officers stationed at every crossing every day. and tunnels, where many motorists were speeding and taking other risks. The idea was to reduce accidents, and so far, TBTA President Mike Ascher said, it seems to be working.

Accidents at the TBTA's nine crossings were down 7.6 during the first half of this year dropping from 1,084 from January to July of 1997 to 1,008 during the same period this year even though traffic has increased. other cash customers by cruising down an E-ZPass lane before cutting back into the pay line. Of those nailed, about 3,200 had to cough up fines ranging from $55 to $525. The 79.4 conviction rate is impressive because 70 of tickets written by state police are thrown out The TBTA launched the toll crossing unit after officials realized NYPD highway cops were too busy to devote much attention to bridges "This is working, so we've made a commitment to keep this program," said TBTA spokesman Frank Pascual. In the first six months of 1998, the team roving the TBTA's nine crossings in Ford Expeditions equipped with radar guns handed out more than 4,000 summonses, records show.

Offenses ranged from speeding to E-ZPass lane cheating when nontag holders try to get ahead of By JAMES RUTENBERG Daily News Staff Writer Motorists beware: Cops are going to crack down even harder on reckless drivers using the city's toll bridges. Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority officials plan to add more officers to a team of TBTA traffic cops who have been nabbing speeding and cheating motorists at toll crossings since August 1997. IB.