Canarsie Tunnel Rehabilitation and Core Capacity Improvements

This challenging $502 million project consisted of significant tunnel rehabilitation work, including civil and structural upgrades, to address the excessive water damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. The project repaired the structure and the tunnel’s power, lighting, signals, and communications components. The scope included stabilization of duct bank, replacement of cables and emergency systems, installation of track rail and ties, replacement of fan controls, and reconstruction of two circuit breaker houses. The core capacity work encompassed extensive street excavation, utility relocation, and improvements at both L line’s bookend stations, at First Avenue in Manhattan and Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, including new station stairway entrances, four ADA compliant elevators, and construction of a new Avenue B substation.

Key features included tunnel restoration after it was flooded with seven million gallons of saltwater, reconstruction of the complete tunnel under a 15-month total shutdown, and new electrical substations to upgrade core capacity. The project was executed by OHLA USA’s subsidiary, Judlau Contracting, Inc., serving as the 70% lead partner of a joint venture that provided services for tunnel reconstruction and station improvements. Judlau completed the tunnel portion three months early and delivered all-new station and accessibility improvements on schedule.

Judlau Contracting, Inc. was selected as an award winner in OHLA Group’s competition for Best Technological Innovations on Site for its development of a Customized Mobile Ventilation and Filtration Gantry for Tunnels. This technological innovation was created for use on this project to ensure clean air conditions for all stakeholders throughout the tunnel demolition phase of the contract.