NJDEP details closures, construction timeline for Rebuild by Design Hudson River project

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection provided a status update on the Rebuild by Design Hudson River project and on how ongoing construction will affect Hoboken, Jersey City and Weehawken. The presentation announced a virtual public meeting scheduled for Jan. 8, 2026, at 7 p.m. and invited residents to sign up for weekly construction notices.

The presentation said the work on Marin Boulevard is being carried out in two main phases to keep operations safe and durable and that some activities may require night work. “Esta construcción se está realizando en 2 fases principales para garantizar que el trabajo sea seguro, eficiente y duradero,” the presenter said, and listed specific tasks including utility pole relocation and removal, micropile drilling, pressure-grout injection, installation of a monolithic concrete foundation for a containment structure, rail installation for a gate, new sidewalks and curbs, and roadway paving.

Officials said gate installation and testing (described as “Closure 2”) is currently planned for the second half of 2026. The presenter described similar work across the project area — micropile drilling and injection, ground-improvement columns adjacent to sewer lines, excavation to design elevations, and construction of concrete footings and vertical wall elements at Harborside Park and along the NJ Transit alignment.

The update highlighted measures to limit community impacts. Project staff said teams will track noise, vibration and dust and implement approved controls; if monitoring shows levels exceed acceptable limits, “el contratista informará al director de obra inmediatamente y se tomarán las medidas adecuadas,” the presenter said. The presentation added that the DBP will coordinate with the construction contractor to ensure compliance with applicable state regulations.

Traffic and pedestrian adjustments were described for several locations. On Observer Highway the south-side bike lane, sidewalk and parking will be closed with cyclists and pedestrians diverted to a temporary north-side bike lane and existing sidewalk; the presenter said access to businesses such as SoulCycle and Form Coffee will remain available. The team also noted that Street 15 reopened earlier than planned on Aug. 29, 2025.

The project team said a final phase of inspections and approvals will occur before the project closes, with a target of summer 2027 for completion of the south alignment and similar sequencing for the north alignment. Staff cautioned that unforeseen site conditions could cause temporary pauses and that some work may occur outside planned hours to meet specific site needs.

Residents were directed to the project website for a recording of the public meeting and to sign up for weekly notices published each Friday. The presenter named the project’s community construction liaison, Isabel Auraschetta, as the primary contact for questions and concerns and listed a Hoboken-specific contact, Caleb Stratton, for local assistance.

The department said it will continue to coordinate lane changes and closures with Hoboken Police, Jersey City Police, New Jersey Transit and emergency management to maintain traffic flow and public safety. No formal votes or policy actions were announced at the update; the next procedural step listed was the virtual public meeting on Jan. 8, 2026, and the stated plan to complete inspections ahead of the summer 2027 close.