SFMTA set to pick new Twin Peaks tunnel contractor

San Francisco transit officials next week will most likely choose a new contractor for the Twin Peaks Tunnel Trackway Improvement Project.

Last month, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency Board of Directors terminated the original contract with NTK Construction, Inc., after SFMTA staff were unable to negotiate with NTK on a new project schedule that would not increase the cost of the project.

The project entails replacing the rails, ballast, ties, rail fixation and drainage between the tracks, inside the 2.2-mile-long, 100-year old Twin Peaks Tunnel.

The project also includes making seismic upgrades to the walls, beams and old columns in the old Eureka Valley Station as well in Forest Hill Station, according to a SFMTA staff report.

On Tuesday, the SFMTA Board of Directors will decide whether or not to award a $41 million contract to Shimmick/Con-Quest Joint Venture to do the work.

The good news is that the new contractor will not have to exactly start from at square one. NTK had already purchased materials and equipment for the project such as the rails.

As SFBay has previously reported, the project will consist of some sort of closure of the Twin Peaks Tunnel.

In the SFMTA staff report, staff determined that it was to best shutdown the tunnel during the summer in June and July this year:

“After significant internal discussion, SFMTA staff concluded the majority of the construction work for the Project should be performed during a 60-day shutdown of the Twin Peaks Tunnel scheduled for June and July, when there is reduced demand for transit service, and during up to 15 weekends with extended service shutdown periods.”

The report said the plan was the least disruptive to transit service, and would provide a window for the contractor to perform the work. Nearly 80,000 Muni passengers ride through the tunnel on the L-Taraval, M-Ocean View and K-Ingleside/T-Third lines.

Transit officials said they have also been working in close contact with West Portal residents and businesses to determine the schedule, and to mitigate impacts from the construction.

The total cost of the project is $52 million.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.