By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

NYC Transit No. 7 Line Extension

Tectonic is providing geotechnical and special inspection/materials testing services for the $1.1 Billion construction of the No. 7 Line running tunnels, Site A Vent Building, Site J Vent Building and furnishing and installing systems and finishes for the new expansion. The project involves the construction of 7,000FT of two 22FT diameter running tunnels, and the construction of two new subway stations at Tenth Avenue/41st Street and 34th Street/11th Avenue near the Hudson Yard on the West Side of Manhattan. Construction of the new running tunnels and station involves extensive rock excavation using conventional drill and blast methods and tunnel boring machines (TBM’s) to carve out the caverns to accommodate the new station. Ancillary work involves the installation of drilled shafts, rock anchors, rock bolts and shotcrete to support the excavated faces. Other aspects of the work includes complete above and below grade construction of the Sites A & J Vent Buildings and installation of all the systems and finishes including trackwork and signalization, escalators, elevators, etc.

As representative for MTA, Tectonic is a sub consultant to the joint venture contractor, Skanska Railworks JV, responsible for performing geotechnical special inspections and third party materials laboratory testing. Responsibilities include blast and vibration monitoring, review of vibration mitigation plans, geologic mapping of excavated faces, inspection of rock reinforcement including rock bolts and passive dowels, inspection of subgrades, witnessing and monitoring of rock anchor testing including water pressure testing of anchor boreholes, inspection of rock drains, inspection of final shotcrete placement, underpinning, boring inspection, and logging of exploratory probe holes.

Tectonic is also providing special inspections, laboratory testing and QA/QC services during the excavation for the tunnels and caverns, dewatering, tunnel lining and construction of structures involving field and plant inspection and testing of concrete, shotcrete, structural steel, masonry, grouting, fireproofing, mechanical/ventilation systems and electrical systems, etc. Compaction testing and back fill placement included gradation analysis, Atterberg limits, density, and moisture content. Tectonic is also responsible for development of shotcrete qualifications testing program including preparation of design mixes and performance of laboratory and field trial tests. Other duties include preparation of daily, weekly and monthly inspection reports, attendance at progress meetings and liaison with onsite MTA representatives.

By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

Second Avenue Subway

Tectonic is providing geotechnical engineering, construction inspection and materials testing services for the $4.4 billion construction of the Second Ave, Subway running tunnels and the 86th St. Station cavern mining and heavy civil. The work involves excavation of two station caverns, each approximately 900LF long by about 70FT high and almost 100FT wide and excavation of two 22ft. diameter running tunnels between 92nd St. and 63rd St. (approximately 7200LF each). Construction of the new running tunnels and station involves extensive rock excavation using conventional drill and blast methods and tunnel boring machines (TBM’s) to carve out the caverns to accommodate the new station. Ancillary work involves the installation of drilled shafts, rock anchors, rock bolts and shotcrete to support the excavated faces.

As agent to MTA, Tectonic is a sub consultant to the joint venture contractor, Skanska Traylor JV, responsible for performing geotechnical special inspections and third party materials laboratory testing. Compaction testing and back fill placement included gradation analysis, Atterberg limits, density, and moisture content. Responsibilities include blast and vibration monitoring, review of vibration mitigation plans, geologic mapping of excavated faces, inspection of rock reinforcement including rock bolts and passive dowels, inspection of subgrades, witnessing and monitoring of rock anchor testing including water pressure testing of anchor boreholes, inspection of rock drains, inspection of final shotcrete placement, underpinning, boring inspection, and logging of exploratory probe holes ahead of TBM. Tectonic is also providing special inspections, laboratory testing and QA/QC services during the excavation for the tunnels and caverns, dewatering, tunnel lining and construction of structures involving field and plant inspection and testing of concrete, shotcrete, structural steel, masonry, grouting, fireproofing, mechanical/ventilation systems and electrical systems, etc. Tectonic is also responsible for development of shotcrete qualifications testing program including preparation of design mixes and performance of laboratory and field trial tests. Other duties include preparation of daily, weekly and monthly inspection reports, attendance at progress meetings and liaison with onsite MTA representatives.

By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

CTfastrak / New Britain to Hartford Busway

Tectonic is performing construction inspection and construction surveying for a Bus Rapid Transit facility along 9.4 miles of active and inactive rail corridors. The facility will provide an exclusive bus-only roadway, along with 12 busway stations, including shelter platforms and other amenities. The new busway will alleviate Interstate 84 congestion while enhancing alternative mode opportunities and expanding interregional transit service.

Tectonic is providing inspection for the new bridges, bridge widening, drains, piles, MSE walls, landscaping, intersection grading, roadway, stations, traffic signals and general oversight of the contractor’s activities. Our NETTCP HMA Certified and ACI Concrete Inspectors are providing daily inspection for the largest portion of the Busway. Contract C is a $150 million contract to construct over 6 miles of the new 9 mile Busway. This project also involved many areas of environmental concern (AOECs), Inland Wetland permitting, Flood Management Certificates, monitoring of Storm Water Pollution controls, and an IMS/Traffic Communication System. Tectonic is also providing survey quality control.

By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

TBTA Construction Inspection, Construction Monitoring & Materials Testing

Tectonic has been providing construction phase services to the TBTA at numerous locations throughout the five boroughs including, RFK/Triborough Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, Whitestone Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Henry Hudson Bridge and at the TBTA’s training facility on Randall’s Island.

The scope of services included inspection and testing of soils, concrete, and asphalt.   In addition, visual inspection of welds and torque testing of bolted connections were performed for structural steel erection. Ultrasonic and radiographic testing methods were used to perform shop and field inspection of structural steel. Other services included inspection and testing of asphalt paving for temperature, thickness, as well as inspection of fire proofing, reinforcing steel, masonry, piping system pressure, nuclear density and welding.

For the TBTA’s training facility, Tectonic provided soil vapor monitoring and sampling.

By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

Engineering, Inspection & Surveying at PANYNJ Airports

Through Tectonic’s ongoing working relationship with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ), the firm has been providing various engineering, construction inspection and surveying services at all of the PANYNJ airports including Stewart International Airport (SWF), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

At SWF, Tectonic provided numerous surveying services related to its acquisition by PANYNJ, including ALTA/ACSM land title survey, as-built Survey, topographic survey and numerous surveys for runways and utilities locations.

At JFK, Tectonic provided surveying, construction inspection and materials testing services for runway reconstruction. Additionally, it performed geotechnical investigation and engineering analysis for a new parking garage at JFK. Surveying services were also provided for utilities upgrades.

At LGA, Tectonic provided surveying support services for the expansion of the Delta Airlines Terminal D and for a separate bridge structure project at the airport. Additionally, it provided geotechnical evaluation and design for a U.S. Airways taxiway remediation.

At EWR, Tectonic provided various engineering services for wireless communications upgrades.

By Juan Lopez 0 Comments

East Side Access

The East Side Access is a $10 billion MTA project which will connect the Long Island Rail Road to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. The project involves several major construction initiatives: excavating and constructing a new rail tunnel extending from Sunnyside, Queens into Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal, and constructing mined caverns under the existing Grand Central Terminal for the new passenger rail station.

Tectonic is providing special inspection and materials testing for all soils, cast-in-place concrete, asphalt, structural steel, precast concrete, shotcrete, earth anchors, blast monitoring, pile driving, grouting and underpinning for three separate contracts  involving tunneling, site work and mined caverns. It is also providing geotechnical engineering services for pile driving, earth anchors, blast monitoring and underpinning.

Tectonic also provided surveying and structural engineering services for the design of an elevated conveyor system to transport excavated material from the new MTA subway tunnel to a transfer station.

By Michael Hare 0 Comments

Routes 19 & 46 Drainage Improvements

Tectonic is providing construction management and inspection services for drainage improvements along Routes 19 and 46, in Passaic County, NJ. The $5 million project entails milling and resurfacing with Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), construction of culvert extensions, installation of temporary Maintenance & Protection of Traffic (MPT) structures, as well as signage.

Work includes the oversight of multiple NICET-certified inspectors along with the construction management tasks of coordinating shop drawings and schedules, tracking and controlling budget, and resolving all Requests for Information (RFIs).

To limit disruption of traffic during construction, both day and night shifts were utilized.

By Business Development 0 Comments

New NY Bridge (Tappan Zee Bridge Replacement)

Tectonic is providing inspection and testing services as a subconsultant to the design build team for the construction of the New NY Bridge, formerly known as the Tappan Zee Bridge. The existing bridge is an essential component of the regional roadway network connecting Rockland and Westchester counties and provides integral access to the New York Metropolitan Area.

The services Tectonic is providing are guided by the Quality Assurance and Quality Control program for the project, which was developed using ISO 9001 standards, 23 CFR Part 637 requirements and the project’s contract document. Tectonic is responsible for all components of special inspections and materials testing, including:

  • Pile driving inspection & monitoring
  • Steel inspection & non-destructive testing of steel components
  • Geotechnical inspection of earthwork, subgrades & backfill
  • CIP & precast concrete inspection & testing
  • Asphalt paving inspection & testing
  • Establishment of an on-site materials testing laboratory

The new NY Bridge is designed for a 100-year service life and will be mass-transit-ready. It will feature twin 3-mile structures, each with 1,200-foot cable-stayed main spans and 350-foot steel girder approach spans. The Bridge will provide 8 general traffic lanes, emergency lanes, extra-wide shoulders for express bus service, a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian path on the northern span, and scenic overlooks with anti-climb fencing and security cameras. A new toll plaza will include at least 3 highway-speed E-Z Pass lanes.

By Michael Hare 0 Comments

Upgrade of Route 17 to I-86 Exits 116-122

Tectonic provided construction inspection services for the $67M Stage I I-86 upgrade of Route 17 from Exit 116 to Exit 121 in Orange County as part of the NYSDOT’s plan to meet Interstate standards and convert the highway into the designated I-86. Additionally Tectonic is providing construction inspection services for the $72M Stage II reconstruction of Route 17 between Exits 121 and 122 in Wallkill, New York.

Stage I includes an 8.8 mile stretch of highway from Exit 116, at the border of Orange and Sullivan Counties, to Exit 121. The Route 17 mainline was milled and resurfaced; including a 3.6 mile section requiring full depth reconstruction and an interchange ramp. Six bridges along Route 17 underwent various repairs and upgrades as well, including the rehabilitation of the Scotchtown Road Bridge and the construction of a new bridge carrying Route 17 over a town road between I-84 and Route 211. Bridge work ranged from joint replacements and pier columns repair; removal of existing steel bridge railings and safety walks; installation of single slope concrete barrier with pedestrian fence; milling existing asphalt or concrete overlay from approach slabs and resurfacing; and replacement of backwalls, pedestals and bearings.

Stage II work includes reconstruction of Route 17 between Exits 121 and 122 and reconstruction/replacement of the Route 17 mainline east and westbound bridges over I-84.

For both Stages I & II, traffic management strategies were deployed such as construction phasing, lane closure restrictions and night work to lessen the impact of construction work on commuters.