McMillen Jacobs wins ACEC award for NY microtunnel crossing

11 November 2021


US-based infrastructure consultancy McMillen Jacobs has won a major accolade for its work on the Randall’s Island Microtunnel Crossing undertaken for the New York City Department of Design and Construction.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) awarded the project the 2022 ACEC New York Platinum Award in Category I: Special Projects. McMillen Jacobs (MMJ) also won the 2022 ACEC New York Best Panel Award for its submission which was deemed to be visually exciting and representative of the key design principles.

As prime consultant to the project, MMJ provided resident engineering and inspection services to extend reliable water and natural gas services to Randall’s Island, NY, using trenchless technology to overcome the challenges of a dense urban environment.

The scope included two 180m-long, 36in (915mm)-diameter fully-welded steel casing pipes driven by a microtunnel boring machine between secant pile shafts 17.7–19.5m-deep and 4.6–6.1m in diameter. A 20in (508mm)-diameter ductile iron water main and a 12in (305mm)-diameter HDPE high pressure gas main were installed in the casing pipes. The project encountered over 200 utility interferences, requiring a robust investigation programme, as well as city and private utility shutdowns, offsets, replacements and relocations.

The Engineering Excellence Awards programme aims to highlight the many significant contributions consulting engineers make to the built environment around the world. They are independent of the British Engineering Excellence Awards.