The ambitious East Side Access Project in New York (T&TI Dec 2003) has moved forwards significantly following the recent publication of a notice re-inviting contractors to submit prequalification documents for the CM009 tunnel excavation contract.
CM009 will connect the existing tunnel under the East River to Manhattan, to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Tendering is underway, after prequalification closed on 21 January 2004. Already prequalified are SA Healy/Judlau/ Gruppo Impregilo; JF Shea/Schiavone/ Frontier Kemper; Merco/Obayashi Corp/ AFC Enterprises; Modern Continental Companies.
The MTA was keen to prequalify additional organisations with experience in hard rock TBM excavation and drill and blast, including smoothwall blasting and perimeter control.
Four TBM drives are planned using two TBMs to excavate the 7620m of 6.55m diameter tunnels, with drill and blast methods used to excavate starter tunnels and assembly chambers.
The construction period is estimated at 37 months, with a cost expected to be in excess of US$100M.
