Amtrak’s $1.6 billion East River Tunnel rehabilitation project in New York is moving forward after construction manager STV Inc./Naik Consulting Group PC Joint Venture said it received notice to proceed on 18 of November
The project focuses on restoring two of the four tubes in the 2.5-mile tunnel, which originally opened in 1910 and was damaged by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The tunnel carries Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit trains between New York Penn Station in Manhattan. and Sunnyside Yard in Queens, which is used to store, clean and turn trains.
In addition to the JV of STV and Naik as construction manager, Amtrak selected a joint venture of Skanska and EJ Electric Installation Co. in July as general contractor for the work.
The scope of the project includes the demolition of the existing systems up to the tunnel lining, which will be repaired. The team will then upgrade the cable ducts, fire systems, track and various signals and other systems. Some work will also take place at Penn Station and Sunnyside Yard.
The work is needed to improve the tunnel’s reliability, safety and ride quality for passengers, and to make it less susceptible to weather-related damage, according to Amtrak. The project will “change the future of transportation along the Northeast Corridor for the next century,” Richard Amodei, STV’s president of Northeast Transportation, said in a statement.
“By modernizing the rail system and prioritizing service improvements, strong safety measures and long-term resilience, we are improving mobility and accessibility while driving economic growth and fostering a more connected region for decades to come” , said Amodei.
The project is funded in large part by the Jobs and Infrastructure Investments Act of 2021 through a $1.3 billion grant from the Federal Railroad Administration.
It is planned that the works will end in 2027.
Map courtesy of AmtrakAmtrak is also planning additional upgrades to the Sunnyside Yard as part of efforts to improve its maintenance facilities. The transit agency has said it plans to award a contract for the work this year.
