Amtrak has officially launched the $1.6 billion East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project in New York City to restore two of the four tunnel tubes that sustained long-term damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The project will fully reconstruct Lines 1 and 2 of the century-old tunnels, which serve Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, and NJ Transit traffic into Penn Station.
The East River Tunnel is a critical component of the Northeast Corridor, the busiest passenger rail line in the United States. While the damaged tunnels remain structurally sound, internal systems—including electrical, signal, and drainage infrastructure—have deteriorated. Crews will fully demolish the tunnel systems down to the concrete liner and rebuild them with modern, climate-resilient infrastructure.
Work began over Memorial Day weekend with Line 2 entering a full closure on June 2. The project will maintain service by keeping three of the four tubes operational at all times. Amtrak, in coordination with MTA and NJ Transit, has implemented mitigation measures to prepare remaining tunnel lines for increased traffic and ensure continued service reliability throughout construction.
Construction is being led by a joint venture between Skanska and E-J Electric Installation Co. Jacobs serves as the design consultant, while a construction management joint venture between STV and Naik Consulting Group provides oversight and community engagement support.
The Federal Railroad Administration awarded $1.26 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funding for the project in 2023. The remaining costs will be covered by Amtrak and its transit partners. The project is being executed under a project labor agreement with North America’s Building Trades Unions and is expected to conclude in 2027.