NEWARK, NJ—The Gateway Development Commission at its Board of Commissioners meeting on Sept. 11 approved first direct contract awards: two contracts for construction and construction management services on the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project.

This early work package of the Hudson Tunnel Project will be the first construction on the project in New Jersey and is expected to begin this fall. Construction is also expected to begin this year in New York on the Hudson Yards Concrete Casing-Section 3.

Following a publicly advertised bidding process, Naik Consulting Group, P.C. of New York City will provide expert professional construction management and related technical services for the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project, while Conti Civil, LLC of Edison, NJ will be responsible for construction of the project.

The Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project involves the relocation of utilities and the construction of a new roadway bridge for Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen, NJ. The new roadway bridge will be located immediately above a new future railroad right-of-way, which will allow for a connection to the new tunnel portal at the western slope of the New Jersey Palisades. It will also provide construction access between the staging sites on either side of Tonnelle Avenue.

With the GDC Board’s action on the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge and Utility Relocation Project, five out of nine contemplated Hudson Tunnel Project packages will be in procurement or construction by October 2023.

“The Gateway Development Commission’s first contract awards mark yet another pivotal milestone for the most important infrastructure project in the country,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “These awards signify, unequivocally, that Gateway is continuing to charge full-steam ahead, advancing far further than any of its predecessor projects abandoned by previous administrations. By breaking ground on the crucial Tonnelle Avenue project later this year, we build upon that momentum and the synergies we have forged between our partners in Washington and across the Hudson.”

In addition to its progress on Tonnelle Ave. construction, the Board passed a series of resolutions concerning:

• A Market Case Estimate of $47.3 million for the Tonnelle Avenue project, including all final negotiated costs and contingencies related to the project’s construction and delivery, and authorizing the execution of construction funding agreements with project partners;
• A Supporting or Executing Partner Agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for services in support of the tunneling and heavy civil work of the HTP;
• Labor Agreements between GDC and labor unions undertaking work on the Hudson River Ground Stabilization Project;
• A stipend program to support the Manhattan Tunnel Project procurement process; and
• Appointment of Robert Hickman to serve as Chief Administrative and Legislative Officer of the Gateway Development Commission.