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NY Second Avenue Subway tunnel contract award


Fehmarnbelt Tunnel delay DENMARK, GERMANY - Completion of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel looks set to have a delay of about 18 months due to issues with the immersion vessel, depth of the sea bed trench, and works noise. A target opening date of 2029 was set


for the immersed tube road and rail link between Denmark and Germany project. The immersion vessel, known as IVY,


Above: One of the concept renderings of the Phase 2 extension the MTA released in 2023 PHOTO CREDIT: MTA


US - New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) recently awarded the tunnelling contract for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway project 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 Q train from 96 Street to 125 Street and deliver new transit access to East Harlem. The new 2.56km-long tunnel will


extend from 116 Street to 125 Street and sit between 10.6m and 36.5m below Second Avenue. The JV 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 is to commence in late


2025, 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 6 | November 2025


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. MTA said lessons 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 portion built in the 1970s, early real estate acquisition, adoption of best value contract structures such as A+B contracts (design-build), contract co-ordination, 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.


has been specially designed to install the huge precast concrete elements on the seabed for the almost 18km-long link. Each standard element is 217m long and weighs 73,500 tonnes – substantially heavier and larger than those used in the construction of the Øresund tunnel between Denmark and Sweden, which Femern A/S said was an important model for the construction of the Fehmarnbelt tunnel. “However, the significantly larger


scale and increased complexity of the Fehmarnbelt project introduce unique challenges. For example, the work is taking place at an average water depth of 30m in the Fehmarnbelt, which is twice the depth of the Øresund, necessitating the use of a highly advanced and unique vessel equipped with complex mechanical and electronic systems,” Femern said in a statement. The vessel has yet to undergo full testing


and receive approval from the relevant authorities, resulting in a delay of 18 months.


Segment production completed for S19 tunnel POLAND - Production of the tunnel segments for the Rzeszów Południe– Babica section of S19 expressway has been completed. A Mostostal Warszawa and Acciona


consortium is using the segments to build the 2.2km-long twin-bore tunnel under Grochowiczna Hill. Since March 2023, around 22,700


segments have been produced in Mostostal Warszawa’s manufacturing hall in Lutoryż. Each tunnel ring consists of 10 elements. Light rings weigh 132 tonnes, with a single segment weighing 14 tonnes (key segment – 7 tonnes). Heavy rings weigh 152 tonnes, with a single segment weighing 16 tonnes (key segment – 8 tonnes). Mostostal Warszawa said it used high-


quality C50/60L and C60/75C concrete, applying steam curing chambers, which shortened production time while ensuring strength and quality. The daily production process consumed an average of 300m3


of concrete.


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