The fourth groundbreaking ceremony for New York's Second Avenue subway was held on April 12 in a section of tunnel completed more than 30 years ago but never used. Planning for the line began in 1929 but was sidelined by the Depression and World War II. In the early 1950s, commuters were promised construction was just around the corner but the project's funding was diverted to other transit needs. The subway was revived in the late 1960s and groundbreakings were held for three short, unconnected segments in 1972, 1973 and 1974 but the city's fiscal problems brought the scheme to a halt. Although all the financing for the current project is not yet in place, elected officials are confident at least one operating portion will be finished. It will run from a station at 96th Street to a connection with the 63rd Street subway at Lexington Avenue (RG 3.07 p127). MTA Capital Construction has signed the first of six major contracts for the first phase of the project. The $337m tunnelling deal was awarded to S3 Tunnel Constructors, a joint venture consisting of Skanska USA Civil Northeast (37?5%), Schiavone Construction (37?5%) and JF Shea (25%). Completion is scheduled for 2013.

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