The Gateway Development Commission has awarded the contract for the Manhattan Tunnel Project to Frontier-Kemper-Tutor-Perini JV and has authorised the notice to proceed with construction.
Additionally, the Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the Project Labor Agreement, ensuring collaboration with unions involved in the project.
The Manhattan Tunnel Project will construct the segment of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP) extending from the Manhattan Bulkhead in the Hudson River to the cut-and-cover Hudson Yards Concrete Casing east of 12th Avenue.
This programme will construct a new tunnel and associated railroad infrastructure to carry passenger rail trains under the Hudson River.
Construction is set to commence in the coming months, with substantial completion projected for 2029. A preliminary estimate by EY indicates that the project will generate 15,800 new jobs.
In a joint statement, Alicia Glen, New York GDC Commissioner and Co-Chair, Balpreet Grewal-Virk, New Jersey GDC Commissioner and Co-Chair, and Tony Coscia, GDC Amtrak Commissioner and Vice Chair, said:The Manhattan Tunnel Project contract is an important step forward for the HTP that keeps us on pace to deliver the most urgent infrastructure project in the country. Even more important, it is a major win for workers. In the months and years ahead, this project will create thousands of good jobs and drive millions in economic activity. These workers will join the more than 7,500 construction workers who are already building other HTP projects. These men and women are working hard to deliver for us, and it is important that we keep this project moving forward for them.
The Manhattan Tunnel Project will involve designing and constructing approximately 700 feet of twin 30-foot diameter tunnels. The segment east of 12th Avenue will be permanent, while the portion between the Manhattan Bulkhead and 12th Avenue will serve as a temporary tunnel shell, facilitating the final tunnel installation by tunnel boring machines. Additionally, an access shaft at 12th Avenue will be developed into a permanent ventilation facility.
Tunneling activities will require careful navigation around major sewer lines, live utilities, and the Manhattan Bulkhead. Given the historic fill along Manhattan’s western shore, obstructions may include archaeological materials, concrete slabs, and debris. The project will also remove remnants of the collapsed West Side Highway and existing sewer foundations.
To address these challenges, the selected contractor will employ a protective digging shield, allowing most excavation work to occur underground. This approach enhances safety and minimises surface disruptions.
The awarded contract totals 1.18 billion USD.
