The East River Tunnel (ERT) Rehabilitation project, being undertaken by national passenger railroad company, Amtrak, involves the reconstruction and modernisation of two of the four railroad passenger service tubes located beneath the East River in New York, US.
The two tubes (Line 1 and Line 2) were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The entry of seawater into the tubes led to the corrosion of the reinforcing steel within the concrete, damaging electrical infrastructure and undermining the safety and reliability of the rail corridor.
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Opened in 1910, ERT links New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station with Queens and the northern end of the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
It is vital to the daily operations of Amtrak, the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), and New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit), supporting approximately 400 trains every day.
Amtrak launched the procurement phase for the $1.6bn project in April 2023. Construction on the project was officially initiated in May 2025.
With completion targeted for 2027, the project is expected to enhance the safety, reliability, and operational longevity of the tubes for another 100 years.
ERT Rehabilitation project details
The ERT rehabilitation encompasses a full revamp of the tunnel infrastructure, including
demolition of existing systems down to the concrete liners, reconstruction of tunnel systems, and installation of advanced safety features.
Key elements will include repairing the tunnel liner, reconstructing bench walls in a high-low configuration with new cable conduits, upgrading ballasted track to direct fixation track systems, and replacing signals, traction power, standpipe, and drainage systems.
Aboveground, the project will upgrade tunnel approaches in Queens and install new signal houses and traction power cables.
The project also includes refurbishing two ventilation facilities in Manhattan and Queens, and upgrading overhead contact systems, signals, lighting, communication and fire safety systems.
Construction details
The rehabilitation is carried out in two phases, with only one tube closed at a time to maintain service through the remaining three. This will ensure minimal disruption to passenger services while enabling comprehensive reconstruction.
Construction works on Line 2 began in May 2025, following preparatory upgrades to Lines 1, 3, and 4 to handle increased traffic and mitigate infrastructure risks.
Decommissioning of existing tunnel systems was completed in July 2025. During the decommissioning phase, nearly 24,000 linear feet of running rail, 12,000 linear feet of third rail, 8,000 rail sleepers, and about 8,000 cubic yards of ballast were removed.
Demolition of Line 2’s existing systems also commenced during the same month. This involves selective demolition at targeted locations along the bench wall to allow access to the embedded decommissioned cables and removal of approximately 24,000 linear feet of bench wall along the full length of the threemile (4.8km) tunnel.
Brokk robotic machines and hydraulic rock splitters are being used at six active locations throughout the tunnel for precision demolition in confined spaces.
East River Tunnel Rehabilitation project financing
The ERT Rehabilitation is funded through a combination of federal and state sources.
The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded a $1.26bn grant in November 2023 via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) under the Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Program.
The project’s designation as a ‘Major Backlog Project’ on the NEC makes it eligible for further federal funding.
Additional contributions include up to $432m from the MTA, $55.5m from Amtrak, and $85m from NJ Transit.
Contractors involved
The joint venture of STV/Naik Consulting Group is serving as the construction management consultant for ERT Rehabilitation.
Their responsibilities include overseeing the construction contractor, managing documentation, monitoring schedules and budgets, and supporting community outreach.
In July 2024, Amtrak awarded the main construction contract to the joint venture between Skanska and E-J Electric Installation. Skanska leads civil and structural works, while E-J Electric Installation handles electrical systems, including signals and traction power.
Together, they are responsible for the demolition, reconstruction, and modernisation of tunnel infrastructure.
Amaracon Testing & Inspections was contracted by Skanska to provide special inspections and materials testing for the project.
Technical and construction services provider Jacobs was selected in 2015 for the preliminary design of the project and awarded the final design contract in 2017.
IVY Engineering Group, an engineering and construction management company, is delivering construction management support and supervising contractor performance project.
Melissa Johnson Associates (MJA) is tasked with leading community engagement and outreach for the East River Tunnel (ERT) Rehabilitation project.