MTA OKs $492 million contract for Canarsie Tunnel repairs

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) board yesterday approved a contract that will shorten the repair time for the Hurricane Sandy-damaged Canarsie Tunnel.

Under the $492 million contract with Judlau Contracting Inc. and TC Electric, the repair work will wrap up in 15 months instead of the previously estimated 18 months. Judlau completed similar work on the Montague Tunnel in 2013 ahead of schedule, MTA officials said in a press release.

Penalties for delays include fines of $410,000 each day.

The MTA last month announced plans to award the accelerated Canarsie Tunnel contract.

The closure will begin in 2019. The tunnel, which carries L line trains between Brooklyn and Manhattan, suffered extensive damage when Hurricane Sandy flooded the structure with 7 million gallons of saltwater in 2012.

Meanwhile, the MTA's board awarded a $150 million contract for renovations to a set of Astoria Line elevated rail stations in Queens.

The work will be completed using a single-contractor, design-build method to reduce construction time and save money, agency officials said.

The renovation work includes enhanced lighting, improved signage, security cameras and real-time service updates at subway entrances.

The board also awarded a $7.3 million contract to the East Harlem Community Collaborators Joint Venture for outreach services for the next phase of the Second Avenue Subway project, which extends the line north to 125th Street.

The agreement will lead to the opening of a staffed community information center for the project. The joint venture comprises Spectrum Personal Communications and Sam Schwartz Engineering DPC.

Under the supervision of MTA Capital Construction Public Affairs, the new outreach staff will develop events and activities for the public, conduct tours and help advise the public about the project schedule.