New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) awarded the first of three contracts to fabricate and construct the permanent structural concrete lining, interior structures, and fit-out for caverns and tunnels excavated underneath Grand Central Terminal for the East Side Access project.

The contract, valued at more than $200,000, was awarded to Michels Corp. for work that will take place in the caverns and tunnels in the south segment of the future Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) terminal below Grand Central. Procurement for the remaining two contracts for the north and central locations will follow. The contract is being paid for by federal and local funds.

“We’re pleased to be entering this phase of construction for East Side Access in Manhattan. This contract begins the construction on the interior work that 160,000 weekday LIRR customers will experience when the new LIRR station terminal opens below Grand Central,” said Michael Horodniceanu, MTA’s president, capital construction. 

The East Side Access project will bring the LIRR into a new terminal below Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The new connection will increase the LIRR’s capacity into Manhattan and dramatically shorten travel time for Long Island and eastern Queens commuters traveling to the east side of Manhattan. Each cavern will contain four tracks, an upper and lower level platform, and a mezzanine.