Consolidated Rail Corp. (Conrail) is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 17 to mark the new Point-No-Point Bridge connecting freight rail operations between Kearny and Newark across the Passaic River.
The event marks the culmination of more than three years of partnership between Conrail, construction and engineering contractors and local members of the United Steel Workers and New Jersey Laborers unions to replace the predecessor bridge constructed by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1901.
“With two-thirds of all freight rail traffic in North Jersey crossing this span, the Point-No-Point Bridge is a critical link in our country’s supply chain,” said Brian Gorton, Conrail president and chief operating officer.
State and federal officials were scheduled to be on hand with management from the railroad, various contractor firms and labor leaders to celebrate the bridge construction and the benefits it will bring to the region.
The new movable single leaf bascule bridge is capable of opening and closing within 10 minutes, as opposed to the predecessor swing span, which required more than hours to open for marine traffic.
To avoid disruption to train traffic during construction, a new alignment was selected for the bridge that resulted in the replacement of a second bridge over PATH’s commuter railroad reducing service disruption to passenger operations in the region.
The overall improvements realized by the project modernize Conrail’s infrastructure and streamline operations for the 40-plus freight trains that cross the river each day.
“This new bridge will provide the continued reliability and efficiency needed to maintain Conrail’s quality service levels and serve local businesses, regional supply chains and the Port of New York and New Jersey,” said Gorton.
The new bridge is owned by Consolidated Rail Corp. as a part of its North Jersey operating district and carries the P&H Line used by Conrail, CSX and Norfolk Southern. The more-than $200 million project began in July 2022 and was funded by Conrail and more than $78 million of combined grants through the New Jersey Department of Transportation Rail Freight Assistance Program (RFAP) and the Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.
