New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has awarded the tunnelling contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway to Connect Plus Partners, a Halmar International and FCC Construction joint venture.
The US$1.972bn contract is the largest in MTA’s history and the second of four construction contracts for the US$6.99bn project, which will extend the Qtrain from 96 Street to 125 Street and deliver new transit access to East Harlem.
The new 2.56km tunnel will extend from 116 Street to 125 Street and lie between 10.6m and 36.5m below Second Avenue. Connect Plus Partners will also excavate the cavern for the future 125 Street Station, and in a cost-containment measure that saves the MTA US$500m, will outfit the tunnel along the route that was built in the 1970s to accommodate the future 116 Street Station.
Early work will commence later this year, with heavy civil construction starting in early 2026 and tunnel boring expected to begin in 2027.
Phase 2’s first construction contract was awarded in January 2024 for utility relocation work. Crews are relocating underground utilities from 105 Street to 110 Street on Second Avenue at the site of the future 106 Street Station.
The third contract, which is currently under procurement, covers construction of the underground space for the future station at 106 Street and Second Avenue. The fourth and final contract will cover the fit-out of the three stations, at 106, 116 and 125 Streets, and the systems for train service. This contract is currently in design.
Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 is scheduled to open in September 2032.
“It’s been a century since the people of East Harlem were promised the new subway they deserve – and we are finally getting it done,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “East Harlem is one of the most transit-reliant neighbourhoods in New York, but every day, tens of thousands of commuters lack subway access. The Second Avenue Subway will… shorten commutes for over 100,000 daily riders and make East Harlem more vibrant than ever. Awarding this contract means that the time for promises to this community is over and the time for building is here.”
MTA construction and development president Jamie Torres-Springer saidlessons learned from Phase 1, which opened in 2017 and was New York City’s largest subway expansion in 50 years, would help to complete the Phase 2 tunnelling “better, faster, and cheaper than ever”.
This includes addressing utility relocation requirements upfront to reduce the risk of unexpected costs or delays as construction progresses – especially in New York City which has one of the most complex underground utilities networks in the world, most of which is unmapped.
Additional cost containment initiatives in Phase 2 include reuse of a tunnel segment that was built in the 1970s from 110 Street to 120 Street along Second Avenue, early real estate acquisition, adoption of best value contract structures such as A+B contracts (design-build), close co-ordination of contracts and reduction in back-of-house, ancillary space and station size.
These initiatives have saved more than US$1.3bn and 10% cheaper than Phase 1.
