The Second Avenue Subway expansion in New York has taken another step forward with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board approving a major tunnelling contract for Phase 2 of the project.
The contract, valued at 1.972 billion USD, has been awarded to Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture of Halmar International and FCC Construction. It will extend the Q line from 96th Street to 125th Street, providing new access for residents of East Harlem.
The tunnelling will cover the stretch between 116th Street and 125th Street, including excavation space for the future 125th Street station. The contract also provides for the fit-out of a tunnel section built in the 1970s, which will be used to accommodate the future 116th Street station. According to the MTA, this reuse contributes to savings of around 500 million USD.
The tunnelling will take place between 35 and 120 feet below Second Avenue, using 750-tonne machines fitted with 22-foot drill heads. Preparatory works are due to begin later in 2025, with heavy civil construction expected in 2026 and tunnelling beginning in 2027.
The overall budget for Phase 2 is 6.99 billion USD, partially funded by revenues from New York’s congestion pricing scheme. The MTA reports that changes in approach compared with Phase 1 have led to savings of more than 1.3 billion USD. These include earlier utility relocations, reduced station sizes, and the reuse of existing infrastructure.
Phase 2 is forecast to cost 10 percent less than Phase 1 on a per-mile basis, and the project is currently scheduled to open for passenger service in September 2032.
East Harlem has historically had limited subway access, with about 70 percent of residents relying on public transport. The extension will add three new accessible stations at 106th, 116th, and 125th Streets, and is expected to shorten some journeys by up to 20 minutes.
The project is forecast to serve 110,000 daily riders once completed. It is also projected to create more than 70,000 jobs, with a 20 percent local hiring target aimed at East Harlem residents.
The Second Avenue Subway has been proposed in various forms for nearly a century. Construction in East Harlem began in the early 1970s but was halted during the city’s financial crisis. Some of the tunnels from that period are now being integrated into the current project.
Phase 1, which opened in January 2017, extended the line from 63rd Street to 96th Street and added new stations at 72nd and 86th Streets. Since opening, the extension has carried more than 130 million passengers.
Governor Hochul said: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. 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 change everything; it 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 — next stop 125 Street!
Phase 2 consists of four main contracts. The first, covering utility relocation, was awarded in 2024 and is currently underway between 105th and 110th Streets. The second, announced this week, covers tunnelling. The third, now in procurement, will focus on building the station box at 106th Street. The fourth will involve fitting out the three stations and installing systems including track, power, and communications.
When complete, the extension will provide a direct connection to the Lexington Avenue line at 125th Street and links to the Metro-North Railroad’s Harlem–125th Street station, improving connectivity between East Harlem, other parts of New York City, and the wider region.
