On February 6, 2026 constructions activities on this massive program stopped after five months of relentless attacks by the Trump administration. 1,000 workers lost their jobs. Now it is back from the dead with cash flowing again. We are relieved.
President Trump had decided to take the Gateway program hostage in the Federal budget discussions with Democrats and stopped the payments, even though the Congress had fully approved its $ 16 billion funding. Gateway, the governors of New York and New Jersey filed lawsuits against the Trump Administration and won.
All the moneys due have now been released by the administration and the program has resumed. A good outcome but at what cost?
The New York portion of the Gateway tunnel is located entirely in community district 4. It will land in Hudson River park at W 29th street and continue under Hudson Yards West and East cross 10th Avenue to connect to the Penn Station complex.
Construction activities that will advance in the weeks ahead include:
- Continuing excavation of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) launch box at the portal to the new tunnel.
- Preparing to assemble the components of the first TBM on site in North Bergen.
- Coordinating the delivery of the second TBM, which is ready for shipment from the manufacturing facility.
- Continuing slurry wall installation for the 12th Avenue Access Shaft and beginning excavation of the Hudson County Access Shaft.
- Constructing a marine platform for work associated with the Manhattan Tunnel.
- Continuing ground stabilization in the Hudson River.
- Conducting site clearing work to prepare for the New Jersey Surface Alignment Project.
While work on GDC’s active construction projects resumes, two major procurements for work on the Hudson River Tunnel and New Jersey Surface Alignment contracts will remain on hold until GDC regains access to all $15 billion in federal grants and loans that has been paused since October 1, 2025. Both of these contracts were scheduled for award in late 2025/early 2026.