GATEWAY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT CORP.
The Gateway Development Program Corp. partners said Thursday they are advancing engineering and design of the Hudson Tunnel Project with dozens of geotechnical borings that will be conducted along the proposed alignment of the new tunnel that will connect New Jersey with New York City.
Gateway says the exploration, which began in October and is expected to run through early 2020, will include 36 geotechnical borings covering both river- and land-based locations, and extending to depths ranging from 55 feet to 280 feet; four seismic Cone Penetration Tests; a bathymetric survey in the Hudson River; and a surface-based geophysical survey along the Hudson Bergen Light Rail tracks in New Jersey.
The project is being implemented by Amtrak, consistent with the prior and ongoing support it has provided for preliminary engineering of the project.
The information gathered will help engineers better understand the geotechnical characteristics of the Hudson River, New Jersey Palisades and the west side of Manhattan, reduce unknown subsurface conditions, and reduce project risk for future bids.
“In addition to the $1.5 billion we’ve already trimmed from the cost of the Hudson Tunnel Project, this geo-tech exploration is a great example of streamlined and efficient project delivery leading to potential cost savings,” Gateway Chairman Jerry Zaro said in a statement. “Our work with the private sector on this initiative is a model we look forward to following as we advance this critical project.”
