The $712M Hudson River Tunnel New Jersey Rail Approach contract has been awarded by the Gateway Development Commission (GDC). The New Jersey Surface Alignment is a key approach segment of the $16-billion Hudson Tunnel project. It is expected to connect the future rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River to the Northeast corridor in New Jersey. Approved earlier this week, the contract was awarded to Skanska Creamer Sanzari NJSA JV.
Moreover, the contract awarding for the firms had been after a competitive procurement process. The award advances construction beyond the tunnel itself and into the infrastructure needed to tie the new crossing into the Northeast Corridor’s existing rail network.
The latest award also sees seven of the 10 construction packages comprising the Hudson Tunnel Project now underway or complete. This is according to remarks by Gateway officials. Construction of the surface alignment is expected to begin later this year.
Gateway spokesperson Jake McNichol said the project will be complete by 2030. Four teams were shortlisted for the procurement. However, only Skanska Creamer Sanzari NJSA JV and Walsh Ferreira JV submitted proposals. Rail projects across the U.S. are advancing such as the Austin light rail project in which contractors Kiewit provided latest renderings of the project earlier last month. The design phase will engage around ten subcontractors, with approximately half of them drawn from the Austin region. The move has been noted as a a deliberate effort to embed local economic participation into the project’s supply chain from the outset.
Scope of Implementation on the Hudson River Tunnel New Jersey Contract
The Hudson River Tunnel New Jersey contract that covers the surface alignment project will build approximately 1.5 miles of new rail infrastructure. It extends from County Road in Secaucus, N.J., to the tunnel portal at Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, N.J. The work also includes 4,170 ft. of retaining walls and embankments, 3,150 ft. of viaduct structure across Meadowlands wetlands.
Bridges spanning Secaucus Road and active Conrail and New York Susquehanna & Western freight rail lines are also part of the project. Officials said much of the alignment will either run on embankment adjacent to the existing Northeast Corridor or on elevated structure across Meadowlands wetlands. Construction will also occur alongside active passenger and freight rail operations.
This will require extensive coordination, staging and safety controls while maintaining compliance with environmental protection requirements. The package is the last major contract award related to the New Jersey tunnel’s approach. It follows on Gateway’s selection of the joint venture of Traylor Bros., Walsh Construction and Skanska USA for the $1.29-billion Hudson River Tunnel section in April.
Gateway CEO Tom Prendergast said in a statement that the project is “firing on all cylinders at our construction sites in New York and New Jersey.” He also noted it will require “extensive coordination and careful planning” because of the variety of work involved and its location.
Project Factsheet:
- Project Name: Hudson River Tunnel Project – New Jersey Surface Alignment (NJSA)
- Location: New Jersey, USA (Secaucus to North Bergen)
- Estimated Investment Value: $712 million (NJ Surface Alignment Contract)
- Project Type: Rail infrastructure and tunnel approach connection project
Timeline
- Contract award approved: 2026
- Construction commencement: Later in 2026
- Project delivery period: Multi-year implementation phase
- Expected completion: 2030
Site & Scale
- Approximately 1.5 miles of new rail infrastructure
- 4,170 ft. of retaining walls and embankments
- 3,150 ft. of viaduct structures across Meadowlands wetlands
- Connects future Hudson River Tunnel to the Northeast Corridor rail network
Key Contractors/Stakeholders
- Project owner: Gateway Development Commission (GDC)
- Main contractor: Skanska Creamer Sanzari NJSA JV
- Gateway spokesperson: Jake McNichol
- Gateway CEO: Tom Prendergast
- Previous tunnel contractor: Traylor Bros., Walsh Construction, and Skanska USA Joint Venture
Infrastructure Scope
- Construction of new rail approach alignment in New Jersey
- Retaining walls, embankments, and elevated viaduct structures
- Bridges over Secaucus Road and active freight rail corridors
- Integration with the existing Northeast Corridor network
- Rail infrastructure built alongside active passenger and freight operations
Strategic Objectives
- Connect the new Hudson River Tunnel to existing rail infrastructure
- Increase rail capacity and reliability between New Jersey and New York
- Support long-term Northeast Corridor modernization efforts
- Improve passenger and freight transportation efficiency in the region
Current Status
- Contract officially awarded following competitive procurement
- Seven of ten Hudson Tunnel Project construction packages underway or completed
- Final major New Jersey approach contract awarded
- Construction expected to begin later this year with completion targeted for 2030
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