The Daily Dig
The Granite-Super Joint Venture has been awarded the Big Creek Tunnel project in Cleveland, Ohio, by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD). The contract is valued at approximately $324.8 million.
Granite announced the award on October 1, 2026. The joint venture pairs Granite with Super Excavators.
Last Bore Standing
Big Creek is the last of seven large-diameter combined sewer overflow storage tunnels built under Project Clean Lake. NEORSD began that $3 billion program in 2011 to improve water quality in the region, and it spans 24 years.
The heart of the job is 22,300 linear feet of tunnel with a diameter of 20 feet. Another 3,115 linear feet of ancillary tunnels includes adits, an overflow tunnel, a connecting tunnel, and a dewatering tunnel.
Beyond the Bore
The structures package is no side dish, starting with multiple shafts and diversion structures. Gate and screening structures, gate control vaults, consolidation sewers, and an overflow box culvert are also part of the work. Sitework, restoration, and utilities round out the scope.
"The scale and complexity of this project align directly with Granite's strengths in large-diameter tunneling and shaft construction," said Jim Nickerson, Granite's Tunnel Division VP. "This is a major wastewater infrastructure project, and it will strengthen system performance and protect local waterways across Northeast Ohio."
When complete, the project will eliminate 550 million gallons of combined sewer releases each year.
Construction is scheduled to begin in fall 2026, with completion expected in winter 2030.
Snapshot:
Project: Big Creek Tunnel (BCT)
Program: Project Clean Lake
Program Value: $3 billion
Program Duration: 24 years, begun in 2011
Program Goal: Improve regional water quality
Owner: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD)
Contractor: Granite-Super Joint Venture
JV Partners: Granite (NYSE: GVA), Super Excavators
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Sector: Wastewater infrastructure
Contract Value: Approximately $324.8 million
Tunnel: 22,300 linear feet, 20 feet in diameter
Ancillary Tunnels: 3,115 linear feet (adits, overflow, connecting, dewatering)
Major Structures: Shafts, diversion structures, gate and screening structures, gate control vaults, consolidation sewers, overflow box culvert
Additional Scope: Sitework, restoration, utilities
Program Position: Last of 7 large-diameter combined sewer overflow storage tunnels
Environmental Impact: Eliminates 550 million gallons of combined sewer releases annually
Construction Start: Fall 2026
Expected Completion: Winter 2030
Award Announced: October 1, 2026
Financial Reporting: To be included in third quarter CAP
TheJobWalk Thoughts
The bore gets the headlines, but subs should study the structures list. Diversion structures, gate and screening structures, gate control vaults, and a box culvert point to concrete and mechanical scope beyond the tunnel. Specialty gate and screening equipment can carry long lead times, so suppliers in that space have reason to reach this JV early.
Shaft work often comes before the tunnel drive, which can bring excavation and concrete trades in early. The release doesn't detail the JV's sequencing, so confirm it before planning around it. For firms chasing the program's large-diameter storage tunnel packages, this is the last one.
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