New York Water Tunnel Repair to Cost $2bn

The New York Department of Environmental Protection estimates that repairs to the 45-mile Rondout-West Branch tunnel located in New York, US, will cost $2bn.

Two sets of cracks in the water tunnel is causing leakage of 36 million gallons of water each day.

The plan includes the construction of a 2.5-mile bypass tunnel under the Hudson River from Newburgh to Dutchess County, and power grouting in Wawarsing.

But engineers have said ancillary projects are also needed to ensure the city has enough drinking water while the aqueduct is shut down for repairs.

The Catskill Aqueduct, which will provide 50 million additional gallons of daily water from the Ashokan and Schoharie reservoirs, will also be cleaned and lined.

The closed tunnel is expected to upgraded by 2020, reports recordonline.com.