A joint venture between Los Angeles-based contractors Frontier-Kemper and its parent company, Tutor Perini, has secured a $1.18 billion design-build contract for a vital section of the Hudson Tunnel Project, according to the Gateway Development Commission. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2025, with substantial completion expected by 2029.

A Key Milestone in the Hudson Tunnel Project

The contract covers the construction of tunnel tubes stretching from the Manhattan Bulkhead in the Hudson River to the cut-and-cover Hudson Yards Concrete casing east of 12th Avenue. The project scope includes designing and building approximately 700 feet of twin 30-foot-diameter tunnels. The section between the Manhattan Bulkhead and 12th Avenue will serve as a temporary tunnel shell, facilitating the installation of the final tunnel via tunnel boring machines in the future. Additionally, the JV team will construct an access shaft at 12th Avenue, which will later be converted into a permanent vertical facility.

“The Manhattan Tunnel Project is one of the most technically complex pieces of the Hudson Tunnel Project,” said Tom Prendergast, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission. “Building anything underground in Manhattan requires careful planning and expert execution, as I know from overseeing multiple subway expansion projects.”

Overcoming Engineering Challenges

Crews will navigate significant underground obstacles, including major sewer lines, live utilities, and remnants of historical structures such as the collapsed West Side Highway and old pile foundations. To efficiently tackle these challenges, the JV team has proposed utilizing a protective digging shield. This innovative method allows the majority of excavation work to be conducted underground, improving safety and minimizing disruptions to surface-level infrastructure, including roads and sidewalks.

A Step Forward for the Gateway Program

This contract marks a significant advancement for the broader Hudson Tunnel Project, a key component of the $16 billion Gateway Program. As one of the largest infrastructure projects currently underway in the United States, the initiative aims to modernize and expand vital transportation links along the Northeast Corridor. With the awarding of this contract, Frontier-Kemper and Tutor Perini JV will play a crucial role in advancing the region’s long-term transit infrastructure goals.

The Hudson Tunnel Project is a critical effort to enhance rail connectivity and reliability between New York and New Jersey, supporting economic growth and sustainability in the region for decades to come.