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The Long Dock Tunnel is a freight rail tunnel in Jersey City, New Jersey that is part of the North Jersey Shared Assets Area and used by CSX Transportation on the National Docks Secondary. The single track (formerly dual track) tunnel runs through Bergen Hill, a section of the lower New Jersey Palisades in Hudson County.
History
The tunnel was built under the oversight of engineer James P. Kirkwood and was started in 1856 and opened in 1861, costing 57 lives to build. The new tunnel formed became route for both the Erie and Delaware-Lackawanna railroads to reach their respective stations, the Pavonia Terminal and Hoboken Terminal, located on the North River (Hudson River).
The tunnel runs 4,311 feet (1,314 m) long, 23 feet (7.0 m) high, and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide. Eight shafts, 70–90 feet (21–27 m) in depth were sunk down from atop the Palisades to reach the tunnel.
In 1910 the Erie Railroad replaced the Long Dock Tunnel with the Erie Cut, though primarily for use by passenger trains. Erie freight trains continued to use the tunnel as do freight railroads to this day.
The northwestern portal is just northwest of where Kennedy Boulevard passes over New Jersey State Route 139 at 40.7398°N 74.0624°W / 40.7398; -74.0624 (Long Dock Tunnel northwestern portal). The southeastern portal is near State Route 139 between where it intersects Palisade Avenue and passes over Interstate 78 at 40.7312°N 74.0524°W / 40.7312; -74.0524 (Long Dock Tunnel southeastern portal). Part of the viaduct which carried trains to the yards and the terminals are parallel to Boyle Plaza (the toll plaza for the Holland Tunnel) which now serves as an access road to Newport Mall.