ALCOSAN Issues Notice to Proceed for Ohio River Tunnel Project

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) officially issued a Notice to Proceed for the Ohio River Tunnel (ORT), the first part of the Regional Tunnel System, which is a pillar of the Authority’s Clean Water Plan.

Steel City Tunnel Partners will construct the project. The group is an equal partnership between The Lane Construction Corporation (Lane, Webuild Group) and Brayman Construction Corporation (Brayman). The joint venture was awarded the approximately $1 billion contract at ALCOSAN’s April 2026 board meeting.

Work is officially authorized to begin Monday, June 1, 2026. Construction of the Ohio River Tunnel is scheduled for 6 years and 5 months, beginning today and ending in late 2032. A detailed construction schedule will be available in the coming  months.

Once complete, the tunnel will connect to a larger regional tunnel system designed to capture and convey excess wet weather flows to ALCOSAN’s wastewater treatment plant for treatment. The Ohio River Tunnel is the first of ALCOSAN’s three planned tunnels and will play a critical role in reducing sewer overflows and improving water quality throughout the region.

The full tunnel system will include more than 16 miles of deep tunnels and supporting infrastructure constructed approximately 120 to 150 feet below ground. “After years of planning and engagement, the Notice to Proceed marks the transition from preparation to construction on the Regional Tunnel System,” said ALCOSAN Executive Director Arletta Scott Williams. “This is a momentous milestone not just for our Clean Water Plan, but protecting our region’s waterways for future generations.”