Hoboken, N.J. initiated a waterfront reconstruction project following a sinkhole incident in 2024. The endeavor focused on stabilizing the seawall, creating a new Maritime Park area and implementing safety enhancements like a protected bike lane and additional parking. The construction is scheduled to be complete by fall 2025, with future phases targeting other areas along the waterfront.
Hoboken N.J. photo
The 2024 sinkhole led to the discovery of significant erosion of the concrete seawall beneath portions of Sinatra Drive and the waterfront walkway.
Officials in Hoboken, N.J. have announced that the city's new waterfront reconstruction project got under way April 7, 2025 to ensure the long-term safety, resilience and functionality of the critical infrastructure, while also laying the foundation for its planned redesign of Frank Sinatra Drive and the first phase of its new Maritime Park.
Hoboken's initial first phase of the Hudson River Waterfront Reconstruction effort aims to rebuild and stabilize the eroding concrete seawall beneath portions of Sinatra Drive as well as the walkway stretching from the gazebo near Seventh Street to the skate park near Ninth Street.
The construction follows a thorough investigation triggered by a sinkhole near Sybil's Cave in June 2024, according to the city of Hoboken.
Conducted by Holmdel, N.J.-based Colliers Engineering & Design, the study involved marine engineers, scuba divers, ground-penetrating radar and geotechnical borings to assess the seawall's integrity.
The investigation revealed that the void beneath the seawall, measuring 11 ft. long, 20 in. high, and 48 in. deep, was caused by the loss of historic fill beneath the wall, which dates to the 1950s.
Designed to serve as the foundational first step for the broader Sinatra Drive Redesign Project, the reconstruction will incorporate Vision Zero upgrades, a two-way protected bikeway from Fourth Street to Sinatra Drive North, safer pedestrian crossings, the planting of 164 trees, lighting upgrades and additional on-street parking.
The new seawall also will allow Phase I of Maritime Park to be built at the former Union Dry Dock site, which includes a new skatepark with both street and transition/bowl style features, a public plaza inspired by the nearby palisade cliffs overlooking the Hudson, a living shoreline to promote educational opportunities and restore natural habitats and a temporary learning nursery and tree staging area.
Contractor to Send in Heavy Equipment Via Barges
Hoboken's Waterfront Reconstruction Project began with initial mobilization activities, which included staging equipment and removing surface features like benches and garbage cans.
Simpson & Brown Inc., a marine and civil construction company in Cranford, N.J., is the contractor on the waterfront project in Hoboken, located directly across the Hudson River from midtown Manhattan.
The firm started by demolishing the existing surface infrastructure, including the skate park, pavement, sidewalks, curbs, pavers and railings, to reveal the existing concrete seawall planks.
Over the next several months, the seawall will be reinforced with a combined pipe pile and steel sheet pile wall in critical areas, followed by the installation of new planking.
Simpson & Brown plans to use barges and tugboats to transport large equipment and materials to the site via the river to reduce traffic impacts and conduct in-water work related to the installation of the new seawall.
The work is scheduled to occur weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to a city press release. To expedite construction, municipal officials plan to seek future Hoboken City Council approval for a waiver from the noise ordinance to extend those hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., allow for work on Saturdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., in addition to select federal holidays.
The rebuilding will further narrow the street, creating overcrowded conditions on the sidewalk during the summer months, which experience the highest volumes of pedestrian traffic. Vibrations from ongoing construction will also increase the risk of rocks falling from the adjacent cliffside. As a result, pedestrians will be directed to use Hudson Street as an alternative route.
This portion of the work is expected to be completed this fall, the city noted.
Additional project phases will include the waterfront near the former Monarch site at 15th Street and Shipyard Lane, the southern portion of Sinatra Park at the boat launch, and the walkway near the southern entrance to Pier C Park.
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