As the prime consultant, KS Engineers, P.C. (KSE) provided comprehensive Resident Engineering Inspection (REI) services for the installation of major trunk and distribution water mains and associated utility improvements in Queens and the Bronx for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). KSE was responsible for overseeing daily construction operations, verifying compliance with contract plans and specifications, coordinating contractors, utility companies, and City agencies, monitoring quality assurance and quality control activities, documenting project progress, resolving field issues, and helping ensure that construction was completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and within budget. The project required extensive coordination to maintain traffic, preserve utility service, and minimize disruptions to surrounding residential and commercial neighborhoods throughout construction.
The project was undertaken to modernize and expand critical components of New York City’s water distribution system while improving the reliability and resiliency of aging underground infrastructure in two densely developed urban corridors. In Queens, the work included installation of a new 48-inch steel trunk water main along Cypress Avenue between Cooper Avenue and Vermont Place and continuing along Vermont Place to the Jackie Robinson Parkway. In addition, a new 12-inch distribution water main was installed along Cypress Avenue and the Jackie Robinson Parkway service road, extending to Cypress Hills Street and along Vermont Place to Highland Boulevard. Upon completion of the new system, the existing 48-inch water main was hydraulically filled, capped, and permanently abandoned. The project also included rehabilitation of an existing 12-inch water main crossing beneath the Jackie Robinson Parkway service road through trenchless lining techniques, minimizing excavation and disruption to traffic.
Complementary underground infrastructure improvements were performed to enhance overall system performance and support future service demands. Spot repairs were completed on an existing 18-inch combined sewer, while a new 18-inch combined sewer constructed on a reinforced concrete cradle was installed along Cypress Avenue at 59th Street to improve long-term structural integrity and drainage capacity.
In the Bronx, the project included installation of new 8-inch, 12-inch, and 20-inch distribution water mains along Corlear Avenue between West 230th Street and West 240th Street and within the Broadway intersection area. Additional work included new sewer installations, roadway reconstruction, restoration of sidewalks and pavements, utility adjustments, and other associated civil improvements necessary to restore the corridor following completion of the underground infrastructure work.
Through diligent construction oversight, proactive coordination, and a strong commitment to quality, KSE helped deliver a complex, multi-borough infrastructure improvement project that strengthened New York City’s water distribution network while minimizing impacts to the traveling public and surrounding communities.
The project’s outstanding engineering, construction management, and contribution to the City’s critical infrastructure were recognized with the prestigious American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC NY) Gold Award for Engineering Excellence.
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