New York Construction Report staff writer
Danish engineering firm COWI has been appointed lead designer for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway, part of a $1.97 billion design-build contract awarded to Connect Plus Partners, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced.
Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture of Halmar International and FCC Construction, will oversee the tunneling and structural shell work to extend the Q Line from 96th Street to 125th Street. The long-awaited project is aimed at easing congestion on Manhattan’s crowded Lexington Avenue line while restoring subway service to East Harlem for the first time in more than 80 years.
Phase 2 will add three ADA-accessible stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets. The work includes construction of approximately 1.5 miles of twin running tunnels, new station shells, above-ground ancillary buildings for ventilation and electrical systems, and reuse of a tunnel segment built in the 1970s.
“This is a technically complex job in one of the world’s most challenging underground environments,” said Thomas Dahlgren, executive vice president of COWI North America. “Our role is to bring the depth of COWI’s global tunneling and underground design expertise to ensure constructability, safety, and efficiency are embedded in every stage of delivery.”
COWI, supported by a team of design subconsultants, will manage all aspects of design and engineering for the tunneling and station shell construction.
The Second Avenue Subway program is one of the largest transit infrastructure projects in the United States, intended to improve access for East Harlem residents, reduce congestion on the 4, 5 and 6 lines, and enhance mobility across New York City.
Construction on Phase 2 is expected to begin in early 2026, with tunnel boring operations starting in 2027. The contract is scheduled for completion in 2030.
