The Gateway Development Commission (GDC) Board of Commissioners on Monday awarded the $1.8 billion contract for the Manhattan Tunnel Project to Frontier-Kemper-Tutor-Perini JV and authorized the notice to proceed with construction.
The Commissioners also approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to the Project Labor Agreement previously approved by the Board with the unions that will be working on the project.
Construction of this portion of the Hudson Tunnel Project (HTP) is expected to begin in the coming months, with substantial completion anticipated in 2029.
According to a preliminary estimate by EY, construction of the project will create 15,800 new jobs.
The newly awarded contract will deal with sewer and utility lines, wooden piles dating to the 1800s, landfill, and potential unknown obstacles.
“Today’s contract award for the Manhattan Tunnel Project represents another major milestone for the Gateway Program. As I’ve said before – we are all systems go! The Hudson Tunnel Project and its approaches are vital to the economic health and resilience of New York,” U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said.
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.”
GDC CEO Tom Prendergast said, “I am proud to begin my tenure as CEO of GDC by awarding this contract to a highly qualified team that I am confident will successfully deliver this vital aspect of the HTP. The Manhattan Tunnel Project is one of the most technically complex pieces of the HTP. Building anything underground in Manhattan requires careful planning and expert execution, as I know from overseeing multiple subway expansion projects. I look forward to working together with the Frontier-Kemper-Tutor-Perini team, as well as GDC’s partners on Manhattan’s West Side, to complete this critical component of this vital infrastructure project.”
