Found some brand new drone footage on Youtube of the Portal Bridge from the end of June. The tracks are almost ready which is great and it looks like a waterproof layer is being applied to the arch segment which means that once it’s done we’ll see tracks laid on the arches, connecting both sides by rail.
Its been revealed that the Old Portal Bridge, once the new one opens in the spring of 2026, will be sunk as an artificial reef at a location not yet determined.
As I also have reported in my posts, current work includes trackwork, wiring and signals.
The final work being done is installation of track, signals and overhead catenary wire to power Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.
NJ Transit recently published some nice photos of the Portal Bridge on Facebook from when a notable politician came and inspected the site. Track laying on the arched section is imminent.
Nice to see Cory Booker out there cheering on the team. This is a massive project for upgrading the existing Hudson Rail System; and is a very good ‘public works’ employment benefit as well.
I do enjoy watching our roads, railways and infrastructure being built here in NY/NJ; this thread is a great place to watch the progress on the Gateway Project.
However, I do think it is important to face an uncomfortable truth about how comparatively slow/expensive and substandard our construction projects are here in NYC in particular; and the USA in general. That is ‘compared’ to many other countries: particularly CHINA.
It is always important to look abroad for ‘best practices’ in all things construction: China is one of the best places to look for great examples of speed, efficiency, engineering excellence, etc.
I know the socio-economic conditions are different; and labor practices are brutal - but the comparisons are still worth while as a learning experience as well as sheer INFOTAINMENT. 
This is just one of may to see - an entire train station built in ony 9 hours. And, also take a look at Chinas incredible High Speed Rail system. WE need to do better. 
Not to get political but China is an autocratic country with lesser/ non existent labor laws and quite frankly in many cases substandard building quality. While I agree with your point that infrastructure building here is slow and less ambitious in comparison let’s not hold up China as some beacon of progress here when the comparison is apples to oranges. I would personally suggest looking to European countries when attempting to drive a contrast as it’s more comparable.
While China’s feats are commendable, there are notable issues mainly poor quality construction and corruption that lead to hasty building. There is also a lack of enviornmental reviews and other things that often slow down work and their autocratic government can sieze property at will for right of way clearing. The same lack of regulation explains why the original two tubes were built rather quickly - there is no regard for human life at the time and cheap, disposable labor (immigrants in the PRR tube case) was abundant. China today has many parallels to how things were done in the past despite the potential high risk of worker deaths with quickly built projects.
Had Christie not kill the first inception of this project, we would of had two new tunnels by now. This is only taking long since a lot of work had to be removed and essentially redone.
As easy as it is, I don’t think we should dismiss China’s speed and efficiency when it comes to grand infrastructure projects. While it’s true that China may have shady practices and workers’ rights, that doesn’t mean their whole method is void. We can still selectively borrow traits from Chinese projects that could reasonably apply in the US. Frankly, it’s kinda unacceptable that the Gateway Project costs as much and takes as long as it does. I mean 2035-2040? 16 billion dollars? Sorry, I’m just kinda venting
It took over 100 years for the west to enshrine its labor laws (environmental protections accrued over the last 50). During the 1980s, Corporate America transferred the entire manufacturing process, from R&D to prototyping to production, overseas, with zero obligations for labor or protections for the environment. What we exported was greed, pure and simple.
No amount of hand wringing is going to change the fact that China is on the verge of beating us at our own game - a hollow victory if that means decimating your land and leaving your friends and family destitute. The state that builds the best robotics is going to win it all, and robots don’t require any of those things. Not a rosy picture unfortunately.
For those who don’t watch a lot of documentaries, do yourselves a favor and watch The American Factory (2019).
I think it’s worth noting that the Gateway Project currently consists of at least 3 separate major projects: The Portal Bridge, the Sawtooth Bridge and the Hudson Tunnel, along with renovation of the existing tubes and other associated work associated with the project, all of which encompasses 11 miles of some of the most highly trafficked rail trackage in the United States. For the amount of work being done, the price tag is quite justified.
The drawn out schedule is done not only to prevent major disruption of service but also the renovation of the original PRR tubes, which, once the new Hudson tunnels are finished, one of the original tubes will be shut down and renovated at a time, leaving 3 tunnels open during the process of renovating them to limit downtime and keep some expanded capacity along with the removal of the original Portal Bridge.
The Hudson Tunnels are also going to take time to dig because before their construction, ground stabilisation of the riverbed has to be done before they can even dig the tunnels since they will be dug through the soft riverbed and the extremely hard rock of the NJ Palisades, warranting two separate types of tunnel excavation methods.
This also does not take into account inflation and the fact that the version introduced in 2009 that Christie killed was around $8.7 billion (~13 billion in 2025), so the costs are similar when adjusted for inflation and certain portions, such as the Tonelle Avenue work had to be removed and restarted since the previously completed work was buried and not salvageable.
To get an idea of how much value the project is worth, keep in mind that a set of 4.5-mile-long tunnels into London through relatively stable and not difficult terrain and a station for the HS2 project in the UK costs around £7.5bn ($10.1 billion USD), and that is for just two tunnel tubes and a station.
If you want to see what a ludicrous price tag for distance and work done, look no further than the MTA’s Second Avenue Subway’s Phase 1. That project was drawn out over a long time frame and cost $4.45 billion for 2 miles and 3 stations. The Gateway Project is necessary, and for the amount of work being done, the cost is not too far-fetched when compared to the HS2 tunnel project in the UK.
The Gateway Project includes two 2.5-mile tunnels that travel under a major waterway, a new major bridge, demolition of the old bridge, rehabilitation of existing tunnels and the replacement of a bridge that crosses over another busy rail line, along with electrical and signal upgrades.
Traffic has been diverted at the Tonnelle Avenue Bridge site. They are now removing the last piece of the original road and starting the last phase of the project.
I recently got some big news regarding the Hudson Tunnel project.
The next step is to divert a portion of the West Side Highway during construction to permit work on the Ground Stabilization Project to continue. Once that is complete, they will inject a grout mixture into the ground, which will help solidify the soil and permit safe tunnel excavation. The diversion is also expected to last until 2027, when significant work will be completed and underwater tunnelling will commence.
NJ.Com and NJBiz have excellent photos and updates showing the progress of the Tonnelle Avenue, Groundwater Stabilization Project and the Hudson Yards casing components of the Gateway Program.
A selection of featured images:
