NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has made a final decision to cancel a planned $8.7 billion rail tunnel, local media reported on Tuesday.

Newark’s Star-Ledger newspaper and NBC New York both reported that Christie would announce his decision on Wednesday, quoting several officials close to the project.

The tunnel between New Jersey and Manhattan would be America’s largest public-works project and has been backed by Democratic politicians and commentators who argue that major infrastructure works can boost sluggish economic growth.

Christie, a Republican, pulled funding for the tunnel on October 7, saying his state lacked the funds to cover expected cost overruns, but has been reconsidering the decision at the request of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.