The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded Skanska USA and its joint venture partners awards on two of New York City’s major transit extensions. The 70-30 JV of Skanska USA and Traylor Bros. Inc. has won the deal to excavate the cavern that will house the Second Avenue Subway’s 86th Street Station. Separately, the 75-25 JV of Skanska and Railworks Corp. has signed a contract to furnish and install finishes and systems at the No. 7 Line subway extension from Times Square to West 25th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan.

Rendering Courtesy of the MTA

Work is set to begin this month on the $301-million SAS project, with completion expected in the fall of 2014. The project includes the installation of concrete structural lining and involves extensive demolition work, support of excavation, utility work and the underpinning of existing buildings that are adjacent to the work site, Skanska says.

The $4.45-billion project to build phase 1 of the SAS is the largest expansion of the subway system in generations, MTA says. The line will have new stations at 72nd, 86th, and 96th streets and is expected to open for service in December 2016. An AECOM-Arup JV designed the first phase of the project.

Separately, Skanska and Railworks will begin work this month on the last of MTA’s major contracts needed to extend the 7 line to the Far West Side of Manhattan. The Hudson Yards Development Corp. provided funding for the $513.7-milllion contract.

The contractors will aim to hire state-designated, minority-owned subcontractors for 15% of the work and women-owned subcontractors for an additional 5% of the work, MTA says.

The Skanska-Railworks award includes laying tracks through newly completed tunnels, utility connections, architectural finishes, structural work, elevators, escalators, HVAC, tunnel ventilation, fire protection, plumbing, electrical power and lighting, instrumentation and controls, as well as signal and communication systems.

Parsons Brinckerhoff designed the $2.1-billion line extension that will run from Times Square to a new station at 34th Street and 11th Avenue. Completion is expected in December 2013.