The Hudson Tunnel Project, a $16.1 billion initiative, is making significant progress in enhancing rail links between New Jersey and New York City. As part of the larger Gateway Program, this ambitious effort aims to boost connectivity along the critical Northeast Corridor. Gateway Development Commission (GDC) CEO Kris Kolluri provided an update during the commission's October 2024 meeting, indicating that most contracts will be either under construction or in the procurement phase by year-end.

Several essential milestones have been reached on both sides of the Hudson River. On the New Jersey side, the Tonnelle Avenue bridge—which will facilitate traffic over the rail approach to the new tunnel—is now about 48% complete. On the New York side, 65% of secant piles for the Hudson Yards concrete casing have been installed. Crews have also made headway on underpinning the High Line and excavated around 17,000 tons of soil​

In the Hudson River itself, preparatory work is underway, with test sections of the riverbed being stabilized. Crews are poised to commence deep soil mixing to enhance structural integrity ahead of future tunnel boring.

The GDC has launched the procurement process for the main segment of the tunnel under the river. A key component of this contract will involve boring two tunnels, each 7,250 feet long, beneath the Hudson using pressurized tunnel boring machines (TBMs). The project includes installing precast concrete linings and constructing cross-passages. A contractor for this phase is expected to be selected by 2026, with the goal of completing the work by 2029​.

The project will be built in three segments, with other portions of the work divided into separate contract packages. Earlier this year, Schiavone Dragados Lane JV was awarded a $465.6 million contract to handle construction on the New Jersey side, and several firms have been shortlisted for the New York side​

Kris Kolluri, who led the GDC during the crucial funding phase of the Hudson Tunnel Project, has resigned from his position as CEO, with his final meeting taking place in October. A search for his replacement is currently underway, though no updates have been provided yet. Kolluri's leadership was integral in securing the final financial pieces necessary to move forward with construction​

Looking ahead, the GDC plans to release further RFQs for surface alignment work on the New Jersey side, with the order for TBMs expected in December 2024. If everything proceeds as scheduled, the tunnel will begin serving Amtrak and NJ Transit trains by 2035, improving travel times and providing a crucial alternative while the existing North River Tunnel undergoes rehabilitation​

This project marks a major step forward in modernizing the infrastructure that underpins one of the busiest rail networks in the United States.

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