Toll of Commuting: A hands-on look at where the Hudson Tunnel Project stands
Seven of the 10 construction contracts for the Gateway Program are complete or in progress.
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The Hudson Tunnel Project - one of the largest construction jobs in the country - still has a decade to go. The project, in short, doubles the underground train tunnels connecting New Jersey and Manhattan.
“The Northeast Corridor snakes down to two tracks in the worst possible spot," said Gateway senior program manager Benjamin Engle. "So, to fill in that gap, making sure that we have four reliable tracks.”
Construction continues in Weehawken behind a 25-foot sound barrier wall. Those wondering what's going on the other side can check it out for themselves at the new "Community Engagement Center" across the street.
Seven of the 10 construction contracts for the Gateway Program are complete or in progress. That includes the completed Tonnelle Avenue Bridge Project in North Bergen and early stages of new track layout and tunnel boring across North Jersey.
Boring through the earth begins once the 500-foot-long boring machine is fully assembled by the end of 2026. It will take 40 workers to crew and cut through 30-35 feet of solid rock per day. It’s a big change from the last tunnel project - done with hand tools more than 100 years ago.
“Mayors talk about how their own constituents are missing doctors' appointments, picking up their kids, getting to work on time," said Rebecca Zack, deputy chief of government and community affairs. "This eliminates that worry. Hopefully you don’t find yourself sitting in Penn Station or at Secaucus waiting. We’re trying to eliminate that.”
The new tunnel is set to open in 2035 and the current one is set to be redone by 2038.
