Designer picked for $2bn New York subway extension

Denmark-headquartered design and engineering consultant Cowi has been picked as lead designer for the second phase of the nearly $2bn Second Avenue Subway project in New York City.

It will restore a subway line with three stations to East Harlem by extending the Q Line north from 96th Street to 125th Street, cutting congestion on the 4-5-6 line running under Lexington Avenue.

Cowi will report to the “Connect Plus Partners” joint venture of Halmar International and FCC Construction, which won the $1.97bn design-build contract for the extension.

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The JV will build 1.5 miles of twin tunnels and station shells at 116th and 125th Streets.

To cut costs, it will reuse an existing tunnel segment originally built in the 1970s.

The project also includes above-ground ancillary buildings for ventilation, mechanical, and electrical systems, with opportunities for ground-floor retail and community uses.

Restoring transit to East Harlem after 80 years

“Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the country,” said Thomas Dahlgren, Cowi North America executive vice president.

“By extending service north to 125th Street, MTA is restoring rapid transit to East Harlem for the first time in more than 80 years, reducing crowding on the current subway line under Lexington Avenue, and improving daily mobility for more than 100,000 riders.

“This is a technically complex job in one of the world’s most challenging underground environments.”

Construction is set to begin in early 2026, with tunnel boring operations launching in 2027 and overall contract completion anticipated in 2030.