Hudson Tunnel Project begins excavation with first TBM launch

Construction has officially commenced on the Palisades Tunnel Project, a critical component of the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project aimed at improving rail connectivity between New York and New Jersey. The first tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been launched to begin excavation from North Bergen toward Hudson County.

The Palisades Tunnel Project, valued at $466 million, involves the construction of two parallel tunnels, each approximately 1.5 to 1.6 kilometers long with a 7.7-meter diameter. These tunnels will be lined with precast concrete segments and connected by cross passages to facilitate emergency evacuations. The TBMs are designed to advance through dense rock formations at a rate of approximately 9 meters daily.

This infrastructure development is intended to increase transportation capacity and enhance the resilience of the Northeast Corridor. Once completed, the new tunnels will allow for the rehabilitation of the existing century-old Hudson River tunnel without disrupting the daily service used by more than 200,000 passengers aboard Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains.