$583M contract awarded for Hudson tunnel project

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — NJ Transit’s board on Wednesday unanimously approved the first tunneling contract for an $8.7 billion rail tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan.

Barnard Construction Co. of Bozeman, Mont., and Judlau Contracting of New York will be paid $583 million to dig the mile-long tube.

Gov. Jon Corzine called the project “an engine for growth” that will create thousands of jobs.

However, several speakers at the meeting said the project is too costly and will require a gas tax or bridge and tunnel toll hikes.

The project is known as Access to the Region’s Core, or ARC. It’s expected it will double train capacity into and out of Manhattan by adding two single-track tunnels under the Hudson River.