New York Construction Report staff writer
Amtrak will move forward tonight with its planned closure of one tube of the East River Tunnel, launching a multi-year rehabilitation project aimed at repairing infrastructure damaged during Hurricane Sandy. The rail operator confirmed the start of construction following a high-level meeting Wednesday with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officials, where it agreed to implement a number of changes to its original plan.
The $1.6 billion rehabilitation contract has been awarded to a joint venture between Skanska and E-J Electric Installation Co., Amtrak announced. The firms will handle extensive structural repairs, systems upgrades, and modernization work on two of the tunnel’s four tubes. In addition, a separate joint venture between STV Inc. and Naik Consulting Group will serve as the construction manager, overseeing execution, timelines, and safety compliance.
The East River Tunnel serves as a critical rail link for Amtrak and the Long Island Rail Road between Manhattan and Queens. Two of the tunnel’s tubes sustained serious damage during the 2012 storm and will be addressed through consecutive single-tube closures, with the project expected to continue through 2027.
“While I continue to believe this work could be accomplished without a full shutdown,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement, “I understand the importance of moving this project forward. That is why I have asked — and Amtrak has agreed — to incorporate the actual experience of the first tunnel shutdown, including the use of third-party consultants, to ensure the best approach to the second shutdown.”
Amtrak has committed to enhanced inspections, more shift crews, and an operational response plan to help reduce the impact on commuters. The company said it will also maintain coordination with Long Island Rail Road and NJ Transit to monitor and adjust service during construction.
Gov. Hochul also pushed Amtrak to address train capacity issues, particularly on Empire Service routes upstate, which had been affected by the redeployment of Amfleet cars following the loss of the Horizon fleet. Amtrak President Roger Harris has expressed willingness to collaborate with the MTA on using commuter railcars to meet the shortfall.
“Amtrak reassured the Governor and MTA of our commitment to minimizing impacts to passengers throughout the project,” the company stated. “This includes our detailed plan to provide around-the-clock engineering coverage during the outage, more frequent inspections, strategically positioned rescue equipment, and more.”
The East River Tunnel rehabilitation is part of a broader effort to modernize aging infrastructure throughout the Northeast Corridor. More information is available at Amtrak.com.
