Pittsburgh Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Wastewater Tunnel
Construction has begun on the Ohio River Tunnel to intercept and store wastewater during heavy rainfall events.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Construction
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The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority has officially started construction on a $1 billion tunnel project in Pittsburgh and McKees Rocks. This infrastructure initiative is designed to capture wastewater during storms to reduce pollution in regional rivers.
Why it matters
The project serves as a key component of the Clean Water Plan, which seeks to cut annual sewer overflows by seven billion US gallons. By improving wastewater management, the effort aims to mitigate environmental impacts on local waterways.
The contract is valued at $1 billion, covering a total tunnel package of 7.9 km including a 6.1 km main tunnel with a 5.49 m diameter. The authority has also boosted its daily wastewater treatment capacity to 480 million US gallons.
The players
Allegheny County Sanitary Authority
This public agency manages wastewater collection and treatment services for Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.
The Lane Construction Corporation
A major heavy civil construction firm that is part of the joint venture managing the tunnel installation.
Brayman Construction Corporation
A civil engineering contractor based in Pennsylvania that is partnering on the delivery of the tunnel project.
The details
Steel City Tunnel Partners, a joint venture between The Lane Construction Corporation and Brayman Construction Corporation, is delivering the infrastructure. The project utilizes eight construction sites to intercept and convey excess flows during wet weather.
Timeline
April 2026: Contract awarded
June 1, 2026: Notice to proceed issued
October 22, 2026: Groundbreaking ceremony
Late 2027: Tunnel boring machine arrival
Late 2032: Project completion
Market Landscape
This project represents a significant investment in regional utility infrastructure that aligns with the goals of the Clean Water Plan. The scale of this contract solidifies the role of specialized joint ventures in addressing aging municipal water systems through long-term capital projects.
Residents may experience temporary local traffic and site activity impacts near the eight designated construction zones in Pittsburgh and McKees Rocks. The project aims to improve regional water quality, which helps ensure the long-term health of local river ecosystems.
The takeaway
Large-scale infrastructure projects like this tunnel require years of planning and construction to address regional environmental challenges. Residents in the vicinity of the construction sites should prepare for long-term project activity extending until 2032.
Further reading
For more information on ongoing regional infrastructure developments, see our Construction section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Tunnelbuilder.
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