Shea-Kiewit Gets NTP for Indy Tunnel

Citizens Energy Group on Dec. 15 issued notice to proceed for the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector Project. Shea-Kiewit, a joint venture, was awarded the project for a price of $179.3 million. J.F. Shea is a Los Angeles based company known for constructing the Golden Gate Bridge. Kiewit is based in Omaha, Nebraska. Both firms have 125 years of experience in construction and mining.

Nine contractors submitted bids for the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector Project, ranging from approximately $179 million to $275 million. Shea-Kiewit presented a bid that came in approximately $100 million lower than expected. With this project, Citizens also honored its commitment to award portions of the contract to minority (15%), women (8%) and veteran (3%) owned businesses.

This segment of the Deep Rock Tunnel system will be 18 ft in diameter, approximately 7 miles long, more than 250 ft below ground, and will be part of tunnel system that will be able to store and eventually allow treatment to more than 250 million gallons of raw sewage at one time. The tunnel will extend from the Southport Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Plant located at Southport Road and Tibbs Avenue, to the 1700 block of South West Street, connecting up three of the city’s largest combined sewer overflow points. Major construction activities will begin in early 2012 and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2017.

The Deep Rock Tunnel Connector is part of Indianapolis’ Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Consent Decree program with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). The Consent Decree mandates reduction of combined sewer overflows into Indianapolis area rivers and streams. In August, when the transition of the city’s water and wastewater utility was complete, Citizens assumed responsibility for complying with the Consent Decree.