The New Jersey Surface Alignment Project is building the infrastructure that will carry the tracks connecting the new tunnel under the Hudson River to the existing Northeast Corridor in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Surface Alignment Project is building approximately 1.5 miles of new infrastructure from County Road in Secaucus to the tunnel portal at Tonnelle Avenue in North Bergen.
This infrastructure will support the installation of the tracks that will connect the new tunnel to the Northeast Corridor in New Jersey. Tracks, signals, and other railroad systems will be installed as part of a future construction package.
Quick Facts
Status: In Progress
Project Purpose
- Build infrastructure to support future tracks connecting the new tunnel to the existing Northeast Corridor in New Jersey
Notable Elements
- Wide variety of heavy civil design and construction work, including building an embankment, viaduct, and two bridges
- Location next to active tracks and wetlands adds to complexity
Contact Information
- 1-800-444-1050
- NJConstruction@GatewayProgram.org
A Wide Variety of Construction Work
The NJ Surface Alignment Project involves a wide variety of heavy civil design and construction work.
Two major elements of the project are:
- Building 4,170 feet of retaining walls and installing lightweight concrete fill to create the embankment next to the existing Northeast Corridor tracks where the new train tracks will run.
- Constructing 3,150 feet of viaduct that will carry the new tracks over wetlands in the Meadowlands.
Representative rendering of the embankment section of the NJ Surface Alignment. 
Representative rendering of the viaduct section of the NJ Surface Alignment.
The project also includes building a 90-foot-long bridge over Secaucus Road and a 150-foot-long bridge over existing Conrail and New York, Susquehanna and Western (NYSW) rail tracks.
Rendering of the bridge over Secaucus Road. 
Rendering of the bridge over Conrail and NYSW tracks.
Additional work involved in the project includes building access roads, drainage structures, equipment platforms, and stairs, as well as relocating utilities, protecting water and sewer lines, and moving an auxiliary signal power substation.
Challenging Location
The NJ Surface Alignment’s location adds to the complexity. Much of the work involved in this project will be done close to active train tracks, which requires extra safety precautions and careful coordination with railroad operators.
The project also involves construction in the New Jersey Meadowlands. Work in these areas must be conducted in compliance with environmental regulations to protect this regional system of wetlands.
Join GDC’s New Jersey Construction Notice Mailing List
The Gateway Development Commission sends out regular Construction Notices in advance of upcoming work. To be added to GDC’s New Jersey Construction Notice mailing list, please fill out the form below.