Tunnel contract secures future of New York rail expansion

Tutor Perini has won a tunnelling contract worth $133 million which will ensure future plans to construct a rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River can go ahead.

A 250-metre long, 50-metre wide box tunnel will be built under the Eastern Rail Yard – the future site of the Hudson Yards development.

The tunnel will ‘preserve an underground right-of-way’ safeguarding the future route of planned twin-bored tunnels beneath the Hudson River toward Penn Station.

Money to fund the project will come from the federal Hurricane Sandy relief fund.

The aim of the new tunnels, known as the Gateway Project, is to allow NJ Transit to increase rail capacity by adding an extra 13 trains an hour and Amtrak an extra eight services an hour between New Jersey and New York City.

Work was originally due to be completed by late 2014.

The Gateway Project was developed following the cancellation of ARC Tunnel, and is expected to cost around $14.7 billion.

“New Jersey is facing a transportation crisis,” said Amtrak chief executive Joe Boardman, in a statement which first confirmed Amtrak’s plans to support the project.

“When the ARC Tunnel was cancelled, it was clear to me that we couldn’t just throw up our hands and wait years to find another solution.”

The Gateway tunnels will link New Jersey with the new Moynihan station and Penn Station South, which will be connected to its overcrowded namesake.

“The Gateway Project is essential to the future growth and economic development of the entire northeast region and will provide for greater capacity, connectivity and convenience for Amtrak and commuter passengers in the heart of Manhattan,” added Boardman.




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