STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 22, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Skanska (Other OTC:SKSBF) has been awarded a contract to upgrade the Delaware Aqueduct, which is one of the main tunnels for water supply to New York City. The contract is valued at SEK 1,060 M, or USD 134 M. The customer is the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.
The contract is included in order bookings for the third quarter. Work begins in October and is scheduled to be completed during 2008.
Skanska USA Civil has also been contracted to build a phosphorous reduction facility at the McAlpine Creek Wastewater Maintenance Facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. This project is valued at USD 26.7 M, about SEK 211 M, and is included in order bookings for the third quarter. The project is under way and will be concluded in 24 months. The project is being carried out by Skanska USA Civil's unit Atlantic Skanska.
The Delaware Aqueduct project involves renovation and upgrading of buildings and installations at three locations along the 170-kilometer aqueduct in Westchester and Putnam counties north of New York City. The project includes a number of environmental measures to safeguard water quality.
The scope of work also involves enhanced security features for protection against sabotage and terrorist acts in accordance with the more stringent security requirements mandated by the Homeland Security program adopted after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
The project, which will be carried out above and below ground, includes gate houses and installations along the aqueduct. The installation work includes systems for storm water treatment, sluice gates, pumps, valves, flow meters and piping, as well as systems for various types of chemical and mechanical treatment. The project is being carried out by Skanska USA Civil's company Gottlieb Skanska.
Begun in 1937, the Delaware Aqueduct was built to a length of 137 kilometers. It was extended to 170 kilometers in 1965. The tunnel taps the Delaware River basin in Pennsylvania and supplies water to reservoirs north of New York City.
With a daily capacity pf 3.3 million cubic meters (890 million gallons) of water, it is the largest supply channel for fresh water to New York City, accounting for more than half of the city's water needs. The aqueduct runs at a depth of 90 to 700 meters (330 to 2,400 feet) and has a diameter varying from 4 to 6 meters (13.5 to 19.5 feet).
As announced earlier, Skanska USA Civil is also expanding and upgrading the Newtown Creek Pollution Control Plant in New York City for the same customer. Skanska's share of this contract is valued at USD 222 M, or SEK 1.7 billion.
This and previous releases can also be found at www.skanska.com
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