Local, state, and federal officials broke ground on a key aspect of the Hudson Tunnel project in North Bergen this morning, which received $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) this summer.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“As we break ground on this side of the Hudson alongside our partners from Washington and New York, we edge one step closer to making our bold vision for the Gateway Project a reality,” Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said in a statement.
“Since the outset of my Administration, we’ve worked tirelessly to deliver the world-class transportation system New Jerseyans urgently need and deserve. By undertaking the most important infrastructure project in the nation, we will generate good-paying jobs, support our growing economy, and promote safer more efficient transportation for residents and visitors alike.”
The Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project is a major early work component of Hudson Tunnel Project involving the relocation of utilities and the construction of a new roadway bridge for Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen.
The new roadway bridge will be located immediately above a new future railroad right-of-way, which will allow for a connection to the new tunnel portal at the western slope of the New Jersey Palisades.
It will also provide construction access between the staging sites on either side of Tonnelle Avenue, as well as access to the entry point for the Tunnel Boring Machines that will dig the Palisades Tunnel portion of the project.
“The start of work on the Hudson Tunnel Project in New Jersey is a significant milestone for commuters in the Eighth Congressional District and throughout the region,” added U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8).
“Under the leadership of the Biden Administration and New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation, the Gateway Program has seen billions of dollars in new federal funding, bringing our residents closer to a completely revamped rail experience. I look forward to continuing our work to secure further transformational investments that will reduce commuting times and modernize our passenger rail infrastructure.”
This announcement is a significant milestone marking the Hudson Tunnel Project’s start of active construction on both sides of the Hudson River.
Earlier this month, work began in Manhattan on the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing – Section 3, an essential right-of-way preservation project that guarantees the new tunnel’s connection to New York Penn Station.
“For more than a decade, no one has worked harder than I have to make Gateway a reality. From the earliest stages of the project, I’ve shepherded the Hudson River tunnels through the Capital Investment Grants process as a senior member of the Senate subcommittee with jurisdiction over mass transit, and have helped to identify and secure billions of dollars in additional federal funding,” U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said in a statement.
“I’ve gone toe-to-toe with former Gov. Christie when he canceled the precursor to this project and former President Trump when he did everything he could to delay Gateway for political gain.”
While New York Gov. Kathryn Hochul (D) was also not present on the other side of the river today, she expressed enthusiasm in the project in a statement moving forward.
“After decades of delays, the Gateway Program is finally moving forward. The Hudson Tunnel is a nationally important piece of infrastructure and will bring millions of visitors to New York every year,” she said.
“I am proud of the work we have done with President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg, Senior Advisor Landrieu, Amtrak, and our partners in New Jersey to advance this project and I thank Majority Leader Schumer and the New York Congressional delegation for providing critical support.”
This work will establish a right-of-way for the new Northeast Corridor alignment under Tonnelle Avenue, provide access to tunnel boring machines, and enable further construction on the new Hudson Tunnels.
Naik Consulting Group, P.C. is providing expert professional construction management and related technical services for the Tonnelle Avenue Project, while Conti Civil, LLC is responsible for construction of the project.
The Tonnelle Avenue Project is expected to be completed by the fall of 2025.
“This groundbreaking marks an important milestone for the Gateway Program. While our Portal North Bridge Replacement Project is 30% complete and proceeding at an incredible pace, the Hudson Tunnel Project is the most critical infrastructure project in the country given our region’s role as the center of global commerce,” noted NJ Transit President & CEO Kevin Corbett.
“We are truly grateful for the federal government’s historic and unprecedented investment in our metropolitan area’s public transit infrastructure.”
Also in attendance was state Senator (D-32)/North Bergen Mayor Nick Sacco, Hudson County Executive-elect Craig Guy, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, West New York Mayor Albio Sires, and Assemblyman Pedro Mejia (D-32).
Then Governor Christie objected to NJ taxpayers being on the hook for what could have amounted to tens of billions of dollars in costs on this project not the project.