During a historic groundbreaking Thursday morning in North Bergen, officials and stakeholders marked the start of work on the Hudson Tunnel Project here on the New Jersey side.

The event was held at a construction site on Tonnelle Avenue, with this key phase of the early work focused on the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project. The Nov. 30 ceremony followed one held earlier this month to mark the start of work on the New York side of the Hudson River that pertains to the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing — an essential rail right-of-way preservation project that clears the way for the project’s full construction.

Between the two groundbreakings and receipt of grant funding, the long-delayed, left-for-dead project appears as on track as never before.

“These tunnels are more than portals of concrete and rebar,” said Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, which is overseeing the management of the project. “They are portals of opportunity.”

As he introduced Gov. Phil Murphy Thursday, Kolluri described the project as a generational investment, thanking leadership at the federal level, along with New Jersey and New York, for their efforts to bring things to this point.

“Today, we are gathered at – I like to think of this as – the starting line for the most important infrastructure project in America — period,” said Murphy. “In a few short minutes, for the very first time, the Garden State will officially break ground on the Gateway Project. This is a moment that has been more than a decade in the making. For years, this project had existed on paper or on computer screens – as a proposal or, maybe better yet, as an aspiration. But today we are taking a major step in transforming this vision for our region’s future into a reality. And like all great things, it is a future that will begin in Jersey – right here on Tonnelle Avenue.”

Murphy said that in the years to come, this project will stand as a symbol for the world-class transportation system that we are all building together.

“A transportation system that is not only the backbone for the world’s greatest economy, but one that delivers a better quality-of-life to all of our state’s families,” said Murphy. “Once completed, this bridge will improve traffic safety in our surrounding communities to help protect the lives of our children. It will help ease traffic congestion during rush hour – so our commuters can spend less time bumper-to-bumper and more time with their families and loved ones. And, crucially, this bridge will also unlock new economic opportunities for communities right here in Hudson County.”

Murphy closed out his remarks by saying Thursday marked an example of correcting mistakes of the past to build a brighter, more prosperous future.

“From Tonnelle Avenue all the way down to Pennsylvania Avenue, our leaders are fully aligned and fully committed to completing the Gateway Project – once and for all,” said Murphy. “And in the process, we are going to create more than 70,000 overwhelmingly union jobs in our region, generate nearly $20 billion in economic activity, and ultimately, breathe new life into the major arteries of America’s economy.”

The governor thanked everyone who had a hand in making this moment a reality.

Following remarks from other top officials in attendance, shovels were put into the ground to officially mark the historic moment that seemed as if it may never arrive.

Stay with NJBIZ for more reaction and the latest developments on this story.