Background on Carlos Slim and FCC Construction
Carlos Slim, a prominent Mexican business magnate, has expanded his investments into the construction sector through FCC Construcción. Since acquiring a majority stake in 2016, FCC Construcción has become a significant player in global infrastructure projects.
Contract Details and Project Scope
FCC Construction Awarded Contract: FCC Construcción, controlled by Carlos Slim, has been awarded a €1.5 billion contract to design and build Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway in New York City.
Project Description: The contract encompasses the construction of two new subway stations in Harlem and extending the Second Avenue Subway line northward from the Upper East Side to East Harlem. The project includes converting an existing 762-meter tunnel into a subway station and perforating a new 2,560-meter tunnel to Malcolm X Boulevard.
Key Project Components
- Tunnel Conversion: An existing tunnel between 116th and 125th streets will be transformed into a subway station to control project costs.
- New Tunnel Perforation: A new 2,560-meter tunnel will be drilled to Malcolm X Boulevard.
- Station Excavation: The excavation for the 125th Street station will be completed, along with digging shafts for auxiliary buildings and future access points.
Advanced Construction Techniques
FCC Construcción plans to employ advanced tunnel boring machines (TBM) from Germany for the excavation process. These variable-density tunnel boring machines weigh 1.5 million pounds and can adapt to both soft soil and hard rock conditions without disassembly.
Project Impact and FCC’s Experience
Expected Passenger Capacity: The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City estimates that, along with Phase 1 extending from 72nd to 96th Street, the Second Avenue Subway Line will transport approximately 300,000 passengers daily.
FCC’s Global Expertise: FCC Construcción boasts extensive experience in designing and constructing major subway lines in global cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Panama, Lima (Peru), Toronto (Canada), Doha (Qatar), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Athens, and Porto (Portugal).
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Carlos Slim? Carlos Slim is a Mexican business tycoon with investments spanning telecommunications, infrastructure, and construction sectors.
- What is FCC Construcción? FCC Construcción is a Spanish construction company in which Carlos Slim holds a majority stake since 2016.
- What is the Second Avenue Subway project? It’s a major expansion of New York City’s subway system, adding two new stations in Harlem and extending the Second Avenue Line northward.
- What are the key components of this contract? The project includes converting an existing tunnel into a station, perforating a new tunnel, and excavating stations and auxiliary buildings.
- What advanced techniques will be used? FCC Construcción plans to use variable-density tunnel boring machines for efficient and adaptable excavation.
