The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has awarded a major construction contract for Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 3: The New Jersey Surface Alignment, marking another key step in the delivery of the long-anticipated rail infrastructure linking New Jersey and New York under the Hudson River.
The contract for The New Jersey Surface Alignment has been awarded to Skanska Creamer Sanzari NJSA JV following a competitive procurement process. The scope covers approximately 1.5 miles of new rail-supporting infrastructure that will connect the future Hudson River rail tunnel to the existing Northeast Corridor in New Jersey.
Construction under the Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 3 is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Critical Link in the Hudson Tunnel Project
The New Jersey Surface Alignment forms a foundational segment of the broader Hudson Tunnel Project, which is now seeing seven of its ten construction packages either underway or completed.
The work will establish the surface-level rail alignment needed to integrate the new Hudson River tunnel into existing rail operations, ensuring seamless connectivity along one of the busiest passenger rail corridors in the United States.
Once complete, the infrastructure will support future track installation connecting the tunnel portal at Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen to rail lines in Secaucus.
Scope of The New Jersey Surface Alignment
The project includes a wide range of heavy civil construction activities, such as:
- Construction of approximately 4,170 feet of retaining walls and embankment support systems
- Installation of lightweight concrete fill adjacent to active Northeast Corridor tracks
- Development of a 3,150-foot viaduct crossing Meadowlands wetlands
- Bridge construction over Secaucus Road and multiple freight rail lines, including Conrail and NYSW corridors
- Installation of access roads, drainage systems, equipment platforms, and stair structures
- Utility relocation, including water, sewer, and signal power infrastructure adjustments
The project’s alignment extends from County Road in Secaucus to the tunnel portal in North Bergen, totaling about 7,540 feet of new infrastructure.
Complex Construction Environment
Work on the Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 3 will take place in a highly constrained environment, including areas adjacent to active rail operations and sensitive wetland ecosystems in the New Jersey Meadowlands.
The contractor will be required to coordinate closely with rail operators to ensure safety and minimize disruption to ongoing rail traffic, while also complying with environmental protection standards governing construction in wetland areas.
Project Cost and Contract Details
The awarded contract for The New Jersey Surface Alignment is valued at approximately $711.7 million.
The agreement also incorporates several Alternative Technical Concepts (ATCs) proposed during procurement. These design and construction refinements are intended to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance long-term infrastructure performance.
Part of a Larger Infrastructure Program
The Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 3: The New Jersey Surface Alignment is one of several major contracts driving progress on the broader program.
The New Jersey Surface Alignment builds on momentum from earlier awards, including the $1.29B Package 1C contract, as the Hudson Tunnel Project advances through multiple active construction phases.
According to GDC, construction activity across the project is generating tens of thousands of jobs and supporting billions of dollars in economic activity across the region and beyond.
With continued advancement across multiple packages, the project remains one of the largest rail infrastructure efforts currently underway in the United States, aimed at improving capacity, reliability, and resilience along the Northeast Corridor.
Outlook
As construction moves toward its 2026 start date, The New Jersey Surface Alignment will play a key role in enabling the future operation of the Hudson River rail tunnel, forming the critical surface connection between underground infrastructure and the existing rail network.
FACTSHEET: The New Jersey Surface Alignment (Hudson Tunnel Project Construction Package 3)
Project Overview
- Part of: Hudson Tunnel Project
- Package: Construction Package 3
- Name: The New Jersey Surface Alignment
- Delivered by: Gateway Development Commission (GDC)
- Contractor: Skanska Creamer Sanzari NJSA JV
- Contract value: ~$711.7 million
Location
- Secaucus to North Bergen, New Jersey
- Corridor: County Road → Tonnelle Avenue tunnel portal
- Total length: ~7,540 feet (1.5 miles)
Scope of Work
- 4,170 ft retaining walls and embankment construction
- 3,150 ft viaduct over Meadowlands wetlands
- Bridges over Secaucus Road and freight rail lines (Conrail, NYSW)
- Track support infrastructure for future rail alignment
- Drainage systems, access roads, and equipment platforms
- Utility relocation (water, sewer, signal power substation)
Project Function
- Connects new Hudson River rail tunnel to Northeast Corridor
- Supports future track installation (future package scope)
- Enables integration of tunnel into NJ rail network
Timeline
- Contract award: 2026 (current stage)
- Construction start: 2026
- Major phase: ongoing multi-package Hudson Tunnel rollout
Technical & Environmental Conditions
- Work adjacent to active rail operations
- Construction within Meadowlands wetlands
- Requires rail coordination and environmental compliance
Procurement Notes
- Competitive selection process
- Includes 7 Alternative Technical Concepts (ATCs)
- ATCs aim to reduce cost, environmental impact, and lifecycle maintenance
Program Context
- 7 of 10 Hudson Tunnel Project packages underway or completed
- Part of broader Northeast Corridor modernization program
- Supports large-scale job creation and regional infrastructure investment
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