New York City has awarded a major wastewater infrastructure contract to Newtown Creek CSO Partners, a joint venture comprising AECOM, Parsons Corporation, and EPC Consultants Inc. The team will oversee construction of the city’s first combined sewer overflow (CSO) storage tunnel, a flagship project designed to reduce pollution entering Newtown Creek, one of the United States’ most contaminated Superfund waterways.
Commissioned by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the project forms a central pillar of the city’s long‑term strategy to modernise its wastewater network and strengthen climate resilience across Brooklyn and Queens.
đź”— NYCDEP Newtown Creek Programme
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/newtown-creek.page
đź”— EPA Superfund: Newtown Creek
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/newtown-creek
A Major Tunnelling Programme for Urban Water Quality
The JV will provide construction oversight for approximately 3.25 miles (5.2 km) of deep tunnel and associated structures, including:
- A large‑capacity CSO storage and conveyance tunnel
- A dewatering pump station
- Multiple connection structures to the existing wastewater treatment network
Once operational, the system will store up to 50 million gallons (189,000 m³) of combined sewer overflow during major storm events, dramatically reducing untreated discharges into Newtown Creek.
AECOM’s Beverley Stinson noted that the project “demonstrates how cities like New York can lead in protecting vital waterways long affected by industrial and sewage contamination.”
Strategic Investment in Resilient Urban Infrastructure
The Newtown Creek CSO tunnel is part of a broader national effort to upgrade ageing water systems in response to:
- Intensifying rainfall linked to climate change
- Population growth
- Stricter environmental regulations
- Long‑term resilience planning
AECOM’s Sam Donelson emphasised the JV’s experience in complex urban tunnelling, highlighting the project’s long‑term environmental and community benefits for Brooklyn and Queens.
Comparable Global CSO Tunnel Programmes
For tunnelbuilder readers tracking global wastewater tunnelling trends, similar megaprojects include:
These projects reflect a growing international shift toward large‑diameter CSO storage tunnels as a proven method for reducing urban water pollution.
Project Timeline: Newtown Creek CSO Tunnel
Below is a high‑level timeline based on NYCDEP programme milestones and typical sequencing for major CSO tunnel works:
2024–2025: Early Works & Pre‑Construction
- Site investigations and geotechnical surveys
- Utility relocations and enabling works
- Finalisation of design packages
- Procurement of construction management and tunnelling oversight teams
2026–2027: Shaft Construction & Site Establishment
- Construction of launch and retrieval shafts
- Establishment of staging areas and logistics corridors
- Installation of temporary works and support systems
2027–2031: Main Tunnel Excavation
- TBM assembly and launch
- Sequential excavation of the 3.25‑mile tunnel
- Installation of initial and final linings
- Construction of connection structures
2030–2032: Pump Station & Ancillary Structures
- Construction of the dewatering pump station
- Mechanical, electrical and instrumentation installations
- Integration with existing wastewater treatment facilities
2032–2034: Testing, Commissioning & Handover
- System testing and hydraulic performance verification
- Environmental compliance checks
- Final commissioning and operational handover to NYCDEP
(Timeline reflects typical sequencing for CSO megaprojects; NYCDEP will publish detailed schedules as the programme advances.)
Why This Project Matters for the Tunnelling Sector
The Newtown Creek CSO tunnel is one of the most significant wastewater tunnelling projects currently advancing in the United States. It showcases:
- The increasing reliance on deep‑tunnel solutions for urban water quality
- The integration of large‑scale storage, conveyance and pumping systems
- The role of tunnelling in climate adaptation and environmental restoration
It also reinforces AECOM’s position as a global leader in complex urban infrastructure delivery. 12/26.
