This phase of the Hudson Tunnel Project, named the Palisades Tunnel Project, includes construction of the western tunnel portal near the Tonnelle Avenue worksite in North Bergen, boring a pair of 5,100-ft-long tunnels with a 25-ft, 2-in. interior dia., digging six cross passages and constructing a shaft in Hoboken, according to Jim Morrison, chief technical officer at GDC.

Gateway aims to start construction on the Palisades Tunnel Project this year and complete it in 2027.

The GDC board also voted during the meeting to issue a notice to proceed to Weeks Marine Inc. for the second phase of $284 million in work for Hudson River ground stabilization work, which is needed in a portion of the river before tunneling. The upcoming work will involve injecting grout into the riverbed silt. Phase one started earlier this year, and phase two is scheduled for completion in 2027. 

The planned tunnels would be used by NJ Transit and Amtrak trains. It is expected to enter service in 2035.

CEO Search

GDC’s board has started the process to search for a new CEO after Kolluri submitted his resignation last month, commission Co-chair Balpreet Grewal-Virk said during the meeting. 

Kolluri had originally planned to resign effective Aug. 16, but has agreed to remain in the role for another 60 days to help with the transition, according to Grewal-Virk. 

“Kris has been an incredible leader whose work has built an organization and partnership that will last with dedication, fairness and unwavering commitment,” she said. “His efforts have brought us to the point of no turning back on the nation's most imperative and important infrastructure project. We are grateful that he’ll be here as we transition from planning to building.”

Kolluri’s departure is coming after GDC secured the final piece of funding for the project with a $6.9-billion Federal Transit Administration grant. 

“When I turned in my resignation, I did so only because I believed it was the right time for me to leave, because we have achieved every single objective we have laid out in the last two years,” he said.