This story has an update: New Portal Bridge used ahead of schedule as delays impact NJ Transit riders
NJ Transit and Amtrak said the first track on the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny will begin carrying passenger trains Monday, March 16, marking a key step in shifting service off the aging Portal Bridge, a 116-year-old swing bridge that has long contributed to delays on the Northeast Corridor.
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined NJ Transit and Amtrak officials for a ceremonial ride over the new bridge to recognize the milestone. The agencies said a second and final track will be shifted onto the new bridge in the fall.
“Today marks a historic step forward for New Jersey’s transportation future,” Sherrill said in a statement, calling the new structure “a modern, reliable piece of infrastructure” that will strengthen the economy and improve commutes along the corridor.
NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said the corridor segment between Newark and New York is the busiest stretch of rail in the country, carrying more than 400 trains and 200,000 NJ Transit and Amtrak riders each weekday.
“The first train over the new Portal North Bridge marks a major milestone toward completing one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in the nation and delivering the reliability our customers expect and deserve,” Kolluri said.
Amtrak President Roger Harris said the project represents the first major bridge-project cutover completed on the Northeast Corridor and that riders will begin experiencing benefits when service starts Monday.
NJ Transit and Amtrak said work to transfer one track from the old Portal Bridge to the new structure began Feb. 13 and required temporary schedule adjustments. The agencies said regular NJ Transit service schedules will resume Sunday, March 15, and advised riders to consult timetables for the latest schedules.
The Portal North Bridge is a two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge over the Hackensack River designed to improve service and capacity, according to the agencies. The bridge will rise 50 feet over the river, doubling height clearance and allowing marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail operations.
The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York and Amtrak. The release said a Full Funding Grant Agreement signed in January 2021 secured $766.5 million in Federal Transit Administration funding. NJ Transit also cited a $1,559,993,000 construction contract awarded in October 2021 to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture, described as the largest construction award in the agency’s history.
The current Portal Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled in 2027.
