Design and Construction Report staff writer
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has awarded the Manhattan Tunnel Project contract to the Frontier-Kemper-Tutor-Perini joint venture (JV) and has authorised notice to proceed with construction.
The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process, with proposals evaluated by an expert panel from the GDC, the State of New York, The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit), The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Amtrak.
The JV was chosen based on technical and cost proposals, with the total contract price approved at $1.18 billion.
The contract, confirmed by the Gateway Development Commission (GDC), covers the construction of twin 30-foot-diameter tunnels from the Manhattan Bulkhead in the Hudson River to the Hudson Yards Concrete casing east of 12th Avenue. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2025, with substantial completion expected in 2029.
The 700-foot stretch of tunnel will serve as a temporary shell, clearing the pathway for the installation of the final tunnel by tunnel boring machines in the future. Additionally, the project includes the design and construction of an access shaft at 12th Avenue, which will later be converted into a permanent vertical facility.
“This section of the Hudson Tunnel Project is one of the most technically complex,” said GDC CEO Tom Prendergast. “Building underground in Manhattan requires meticulous planning and expertise, as we have seen in past subway expansions.”
The project poses significant challenges, as crews will navigate major sewer lines, live utilities, and remnants of the old West Side Highway. To overcome these obstacles, the contractors plan to use a protective digging shield, allowing most of the construction to take place underground. This method will reduce disruptions to surface roads and sidewalks while enhancing safety.
Awarding the new contract marks a key milestone in the broader $16 billion Gateway Program, one of the largest infrastructure projects in the United States. The Hudson Tunnel Project is a critical component of the program, which aims to improve rail connectivity between New York and New Jersey.
