MTA Capital Construction of New York has awarded a contract to a Granite Construction-led joint venture to build the last major tunnel link from Queens to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.

The $659m contract, called the Queens Bored Tunnels and Structures contract, is part of the Long Island Rail Road’s East Side Access project.

The East Side Access project will complete the Long Island Rail Road service, which will provide a direct route between Long Island and eastern Queens to Manhattan’s eastside.

Work includes excavation and precast concrete lining of four bored tunnels below an active rail storage, totalling over 10,000ft in length and nearly 22ft in diameter.

Work also includes excavating three emergency exit structures and underpinning existing bridges.

The joint venture’s other members include Traylor Brothers and Frontier-Kemper Constructors with Granite holding a 42.5% share in the deal.

Work will begin immediately and finish in 42 months.