As the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) embarks on the long-anticipated second phase of the Second Avenue Subway expansion, Nanuet, New York-headquartered Halmar International is poised to play a pivotal role in the project’s success. The construction firm, known for its expertise in large-scale infrastructure projects, is part of Connect Plus Partners, a joint venture with Florida-based Civil & Building North America Inc., which has been pre-qualified for one of the most extensive tunneling and station construction contracts in this phase.

The Second Avenue Subway extension, which initially gained notoriety as the world’s most expensive subway line, cost $4.5 billion for just three Q line stations over 1.8 miles. Now, with a price tag of $6.9 billion for a 1.5-mile extension into Harlem, the MTA is determined to streamline costs and enhance project efficiency. Halmar International is at the forefront of this effort, leveraging its extensive experience in infrastructure development to help modernize and expand the city’s transit system.

A New Approach to Project Management

For this phase, the MTA utilizes a design-build project delivery method, consolidating design and construction into a single entity. This method, aimed at reducing costs and delays, allows firms like Halmar International to integrate planning and execution more efficiently. By combining contracts and working closely with architects and engineers, Halmar’s involvement ensures that fewer procurement steps are needed, mitigating costly mid-project changes.

“The success of this project depends on bringing together top-tier engineering and construction talent under one umbrella,” said Jamie Torres-Springer, MTA’s president of construction and development. “With firms like Halmar International, we are confident in achieving greater efficiency and cost savings.”

Strategic Innovations to Cut Costs

Halmar International and its partners will be working under new MTA cost-saving initiatives, including:

• Utilizing a 1970s-era tunnel from 110th to 120th Street saves an estimated $500 million by eliminating the need for extensive new excavation.
• Streamlining station designs to reduce unnecessary space and consolidate operational rooms, addressing inefficiencies that plagued the first phase of construction.
• Advancing real estate acquisitions and utility relocations to avoid costly delays later in the project timeline.

By implementing these strategies, the MTA has already shaved over $1 billion from the initial budget estimate.

The Role of Halmar International

With decades of experience in major infrastructure projects, Halmar International has built a reputation for delivering large-scale, complex projects on time and within budget. As part of the Connect Plus Partners joint venture, the firm is positioned to contribute its extensive expertise in heavy civil construction, tunneling, and urban transit projects. Its leadership in the design-build process will be instrumental in navigating regulatory challenges, optimizing construction efficiency, and ensuring worker safety throughout the subway expansion.

Halmar has previously worked on numerous high-profile infrastructure projects, including highway expansions, rail system modernizations, and significant bridge rehabilitations. The Second Avenue Subway expansion represents another opportunity for the company to solidify its standing as a leader in transportation construction.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

While design-build has been heralded as a more efficient procurement method, experts caution that it is not a guaranteed solution to cost overruns. Labor agreements and bureaucratic hurdles remain key concerns. Influential construction unions often negotiate work conditions that can drive up expenses. For example, during the first phase, contractors were required to pay a $450,000 fee per tunnel-boring machine to the tunnel workers’ union due to concerns about job displacement.

MTA officials are exploring a project labor agreement for phase two, which could provide cost-saving flexibility by standardizing work conditions across all contractors. Halmar International will be instrumental in these discussions, balancing labor demands with the need for efficient project execution.

Securing the Future of New York’s Transit

Despite the hurdles, Halmar International and its partners remain committed to delivering a subway extension to enhance public transit for Harlem residents and all New Yorkers. With early engineering work already underway and major contracts set to be awarded this fall, the firm is preparing to break ground on one of the city’s most ambitious transportation projects.

In a landscape where cost efficiency and infrastructure modernization are paramount, Halmar International is a critical player in ensuring the Second Avenue Subway’s expansion remains on schedule and within budget. By driving innovation, collaborating with stakeholders, and navigating complex urban construction challenges, the company is helping to shape the future of New York City’s transit network.

Halmar International, established as Halmar Construction in 1962, has grown into a leading heavy civil construction firm specializing in infrastructure projects such as highways, bridges, rail systems, and mass transit. In 2005, Chris Larsen and Paul Atkins restructured the company with a vision to create a culture built on trust and respect, propelling it to become one of the largest civil contractors in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

While Halmar International is headquartered at 421 East Route 59 in Nanuet, the company continues to play a significant role in major infrastructure projects across the region, reinforcing its reputation as a key player in the construction industry.

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