Hudson Tunnel Project awards first construction contracts

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During its Sept. 11 meeting, the Gateway Development Commission (GDC) board of commissioners awarded its first direct contracts as part of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP).

The two contracts pertain to an early work package on the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation phase of the work. The GDC says that following a publicly advertised bidding process, Naik Consulting Group PC will provide professional construction management and related technical services while Conti Civil LLC will be responsible for the construction.

The work will mark the first construction on the HTP in New Jersey and is expected to begin this fall, involving the relocation of utilities and the construction of a new roadway bridge for Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen. The roadway bridge will be located directly above a new, future railroad right-of-way, which will allow for connection to the new tunnel portal, as well as provide construction access between the staging sites on either side of Tonnelle Avenue.

The action continues momentum for the long-anticipated, long-delayed project, which has taken major strides forward in recent months, as NJBIZ has reported.

“The Gateway Development Commission’s first contract awards mark yet another pivotal milestone for the most important infrastructure project in the country,” said Gov. Phil Murphy in a press release. “These awards signify, unequivocally, that Gateway is continuing to charge full steam ahead, advancing far further than any of its predecessor projects abandoned by previous administrations. By breaking ground on the crucial Tonnelle Avenue project later this year, we build upon that momentum and the synergies we have forged between our partners in Washington and across the Hudson.”

The GDC noted that with Monday’s action, five of the nine project packages will be in procurement or construction by this October.

The board also passed a series of resolutions at the meeting including:

• A market case estimate of $47.3 million for the Tonnelle Avenue project, which includes all final negotiated costs and contingencies;
• A supporting or executing partner agreement with the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey for services in support of the tunneling and heavy civil work of the HTP;
• Labor agreements between GDC and unions undertaking work on the Hudson River Ground Stabilization Project;
• A stipend program to support the Manhattan Tunnel Project procurement process; and
• Appointment of Robert Hickman to serve as chief administrative and legislative officer of the GDC.

“We are proud to take significant actions today to keep moving the Hudson Tunnel Project forward and see work start this year,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, NJ commissioner and GDC co-chair. “Govs. Murphy and [Kathy] Hochul have made it abundantly clear that their priority is construction on the tunnel, and today we are taking a major step in meeting their mandate.”

“This first piece of Hudson Tunnel Project work in New Jersey, combined with the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing-Section 3 starting work in New York, means GDC and its partners are meeting our commitment to start work on both sides of the Hudson River this year,” said Anthony Coscia, Amtrak commissioner and GDC vice-chair.

GDC Chief Executive Officer Kris Kolluri said that the progress made between his organization and its partners over the last year has been nothing short of remarkable – stressing that none of it would be possible without collaboration at different government levels and with different stakeholders.

“We will continue to work around the clock to reward their faith in GDC, and to build a project that will mean tens of thousands of good jobs, and a better quality of life for hundreds of thousands of riders,” said Kolluri.