Murphy Kicks Off $5M First Step In Hoboken Anti-Flooding Project

HOBOKEN, NJ — Nine years after Hurricane Sandy flooded Hoboken, knocked out power, and even stole Halloween, Gov. Phil Murphy and other officials cut the ribbon on the waterfront to kick off a $230 million anti-flooding project for the city and its neighbors. Hoboken notoriously floods during severe storms, including twice last summer — and such storms have become more frequent. READ MORE: Hoboken Floods From Second '50-Year-Storm' In 2 Weeks

The groundbreaking represents the start of construction on the first phase of the project, a $5.26 million conversion of portions of the area’s combined sewer system into separate sanitary and stormwater lines, for better stormwater management.

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge, and federal, state, and local officials hosted the groundbreaking on Thursday morning for the Rebuild by Design resiliency project in Hoboken.

The project, made possible by over $230 million in Sandy recovery funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is meant to protect cities along the Hudson River, particularly Hoboken, Weehawken, and Jersey City, from the effects of storm surge flooding and climate change.

Ultimately, above-ground flood protections will include a public park in North Hoboken at Cove Park, as well as other community amenities. READ MORE: DEP To Hold Meeting On Hoboken's $230B Anti-Flood Plan

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development launched the Rebuild by Design (RBD) competition in the summer of 2013 to find ways to reduce flooding in areas affected by Superstorm Sandy.

Among six national winners was the plan for Hoboken — which is also meant to combat flooding in low-lying parts of nearby Weehawken and Jersey City.

“The ... project will mitigate the range of weaknesses along the Hudson River exposed by Superstorm Sandy and provide a suite of innovative solutions to address sea-level rise," said Gov. Murphy on Thursday.

He said the project will "make our communities more resilient from the adverse effects of climate change, while creating good-paying jobs, is the future of American infrastructure.”

“Superstorm Sandy devastated communities throughout the tri-state region,” said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “We needed bold action to rebuild and prevent damage from future natural disasters.”

“The critical Resist, Delay, Store and Discharge project will make Hoboken’s infrastructure more resilient and help protect the city, as well as Weehawken and Jersey City, from flooding and other natural disasters,” said Rep. Albio Sires. “It will also create good jobs in the district and promote environmental justice.”

“Climate change is not some far off prospect; it is here now, and its impacts on New Jersey communities will only worsen,” said New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette.

“Help is finally here for Hoboken in our effort to substantially reduce flood risk with today’s historic groundbreaking of Rebuild by Design,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “This project will now serve as a model for the rest of the country, integrating proven resiliency features with community amenities and a park that will help prevent storm surge from breaching our community, like it did during Superstorm Sandy.”

“Now we are beginning!” said Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner. “This has been an extremely complicated and, at times a difficult process. I want to thank all those involved in this tremendous undertaking. I look forward to its competition for the safety of Weehawken, Hoboken and Jersey City residents."

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has worked closely with the Hudson river communities since 2014 to design a project that works seamlessly to enhance the aesthetics of the community. The Resist structure design consists of an 8,846-foot series of flood walls, barriers, roller gates and other measures to provide flood risk reduction to the population and infrastructure within the project area’s 100-year floodplain.

This work will also protect critical infrastructure, including hospitals, emergency services such as firehouses and a hospital, and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority’s treatment plan. Construction of the Resist structure is scheduled to start in early 2022 and will run through 2025.

To learn more about the Rebuild by Design Hudson River Project, click here.

Street closures to come

Soon, the work on the combined sewer system will necessitate some temporary road closures and detours in the areas of Sinatra Drive, Newark Street, River Street, Hudson Street, Hudson Place and will include the intersection of Hudson Street and Observer Highway.

In order to minimize pedestrian and vehicular disruptions in the area, the Hoboken City Council approved a resolution on March 17, 2021 authorizing night work to take place on designated streets in the area.

According to the city, the DEP is working closely with city officials, the HPD, HFD, NJ Transit, and the Port Authority to mitigate traffic, commuter disruption, and noise disruption to the fullest extent possible.

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