A method and apparatus for improved downlink data transport with hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback and a measurement gap are provided. A user equipment (UE) receives from a network a transmission grant for downlink data on a first control channel. The UE receives the data from the network via a transport channel. In response to the received data, the UE determines whether transmission of an acknowledgement message falls in a measurement gap. Upon determining that the transmission of the acknowledgement message by the UE falls in the measurement gap, and prior to receiving from the network a retransmission grant for the data on the first control channel, the UE sends the acknowledgement message on a second control channel in a sub-frame following the measurement gap. The first control channel is associated with the second control channel.