New York Construction Report staff writer
The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) has awarded a $465.6-million contract to Schiavone Dragados Lane JV to lead the construction of the New Jersey segment of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP).
Also, the GDC board has authorized the Notice to Proceed for Phase Two of the Hudson River Ground Stabilization (HRGS) Project, a key component of the HTP’s initial heavy construction. Phase One, which began in May, will wrap up this fall, while Phase Two will extend until 2027. The HRGS Project is crucial for stabilizing the ground for TBM operations by injecting a soil-concrete mix into the riverbed to protect it and ensure smooth excavation.
The Schiavone contract is the first of three GDC plans to award for tunneling work on the $16.1-billion project and focuses on the Palisades Tunnel Project, marks a significant milestone as it represents the largest and most intricate contract the GDC has ever approved.
“This is the most complex and largest contract the GDC has considered. It represents a pivotal step in our ambitious $16.1-billion Hudson Tunnel Project,” Kris Kolluri, CEO of the GDC, said at a meeting Aug. 1.
The Palisades Tunnel Project, which will start this summer, will construct the initial mile of twin tunnels on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. The scope includes boring two tunnels, each about 5,100 feet long with a 25-foot-2-inch internal diameter, and creating six cross passages. Additionally, the project involves installing a concrete tunnel lining with a waterproofing membrane and constructing the Hudson County Shaft for the removal of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) upon project completion. This phase is slated for completion in 2027.
The GDC has worked with technical experts from various agencies, including NJ TRANSIT, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and Amtrak, to review proposals and select Schiavone Dragados Lane JV. The contract, valued at $465 million with an additional five percent allocated for contingencies, follows a rigorous bidding and evaluation process.
“With the full funding agreement signed in July, we promised swift action, and today’s contract award demonstrates our commitment to advancing both heavy construction and tunnel boring efforts,” GDC Commissioners Alicia Glen (New York), Balpreet GrewalVirk (New Jersey), and Tony Coscia (Amtrak) said in a joint statement. “These steps are critical in moving the HTP into the construction phase.”
The HRGS Project contract was awarded to Weeks Marine, Inc. in February and work involves environmental considerations including the use of temporary sheet pile cofferdams to minimize river ecosystem impact and scheduling construction to avoid disrupting fish spawning seasons. Phase One’s work included a test cofferdam, while Phase Two will focus on stabilizing the riverbed through grout injection to create stabilized soil columns above the future tunnel.
