The Ohio River Tunnel Project in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has officially entered its construction phase, marking a major milestone in the region’s wastewater infrastructure development. Led by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), the project is designed to reduce combined sewer overflows during heavy rainfall and improve water quality across the region.
Valued at approximately US$1 billion, the project is being delivered by Steel City Tunnel Partners, a joint venture between Lane Construction and Brayman Construction. The development includes a 4.9-mile tunnel system, multiple access and drop shafts, regulator structures and supporting surface facilities. Once completed, it is expected to help capture and redirect excess wastewater to the treatment plant, reducing sewer overflows by approximately seven billion gallons annually.
The main tunnel will extend approximately 3.8 miles and have a diameter of around 18 feet. Smaller connecting tunnels will collect wastewater from the Saw Mill Run and Chartiers Creek areas. Construction will involve drilling access shafts before a large tunnel boring machine (TBM) begins excavating the main tunnel. The machine is expected to arrive in late 2027, with the overall project scheduled for completion by the end of 2032.
Although tunnel boring machines perform the main underground excavation, extensive surface and shaft construction activities also require heavy construction equipment. Excavators, bulldozers and wheel loaders may be used for site clearance, access road preparation, foundation excavation, material handling and supporting civil engineering work. These machines are essential for preparing construction sites and supporting the complex operations surrounding underground infrastructure projects.
Long-term construction projects place significant demands on equipment. Excavators and bulldozers working around shaft locations and construction staging areas may encounter compacted soil, rocks and abrasive materials. Continuous operation can accelerate wear on undercarriage components such as track chains, bottom rollers, carrier rollers, idlers and drive sprockets.
Equipment downtime can disrupt construction schedules and increase operating costs. Regular undercarriage inspections, correct track tension and timely replacement of worn components help maintain machine stability and operating efficiency. Contractors should also select replacement parts that meet the specifications of their equipment and the demands of the working environment.
FL supplies a wide range of excavator and bulldozer undercarriage parts, including track chains, bottom rollers, top rollers, carrier rollers, idlers, drive sprockets, steel tracks and track adjusters. With precision machining and heat treatment processes, FL focuses on providing durable replacement components for construction, mining and infrastructure applications.
As Pittsburgh moves forward with this major wastewater infrastructure investment, reliable construction machinery will remain essential throughout the project’s development. Contractors, equipment dealers and maintenance teams can improve fleet readiness by planning replacement-part requirements and sourcing dependable components in advance.
Contact FL to discuss your machinery models and find suitable undercarriage parts for demanding construction and infrastructure projects.
Dozerpart Operation Team
2026.10.18
