Construction officially begins on long-delayed Gateway Hudson River Tunnel Project
NEW YORK -- Friday, construction kicked off on the first part of the project to build two new train tunnels underneath the Hudson River.
This project has been talked about for 30 years, and with work finally set to begin, state and federal leaders are celebrating what they call the light at the end of a very long tunnel.
"These are hard dollars that translate into hard hats," Sen. Chuck Schumer said.
Having support for New York among Washington leadership helped secure a total of $11 billion in federal financing, 70% of the money needed to connect Secaucus, New Jersey, to Penn Station through a brand new gateway.
"This is the largest single investment in infrastructure. and what better place than the great city of New York, the great state of New York, to prove that when we do things together, we can get great things done," said Mitch Landrieu, senior advisor to President Joe Biden.
The project is expected to provide 72,000 union jobs and an economic impact of $19 billion once all four tracks are up and running, transporting 200,000 people daily.
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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg compares Gateway to the Hoover Dam and Golden Gate Bridge.
"There are some infrastructure projects so large, so complex that they defy traditional funding structures, and so significant that they become iconic parts of the American landscape," Buttigieg said.
The need to repair and replace the existing century-old tunnel became apparent after Superstorm Sandy, when saltwater sped up the corrosion already underway.
The federal investment now brings each state's contribution to construction costs down from 25% to 15%.
"I have already mentally spent that extra money. Don't worry about it. But let me give you a hint -- it's got shovels and hard hats as well," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
Amtrak has already spent more than $200 million to fortify the tunnel.
"We've been able to keep those tunnels operational, and it's our hope that we'll be able to do that until the new tunnels are completed," Amtrak Chairman Tony Coscia said.
Riders can expect to take their first trip through the tunnel in 2035.
As part of the Gateway Project, a new tunnel will be built first and then the existing tunnel will be closed and reconstructed.