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Portal North Bridge

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Coordinates: 40°45′13″N 74°5′41″W / 40.75361°N 74.09472°W / 40.75361; -74.09472
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Portal North Bridge
Construction 2025
Coordinates40°45′13″N 74°5′41″W / 40.75361°N 74.09472°W / 40.75361; -74.09472
CarriesNortheast Corridor
CrossesHackensack River
LocaleNew Jersey Meadowlands
OwnerAmtrak
NJ Transit
Characteristics
Total length1,200 ft (370 m)
Clearance below50 ft (15 m)
History
Construction start2017
Location
Map
References
[1]


The Portal North Bridge is a railroad bridge under construction to replace the original Portal Bridge, which carries the Northeast Corridor (NEC) over the Hackensack River. It is located in Kearny and Secaucus, New Jersey, just west of Secaucus Junction and east of the Sawtooth Bridges.

The new bridge is part of the Gateway Program to rebuild and expand the NEC between Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station.[2][3][4] The Portal North Bridge is fixed span with a vertical clearance of 50 feet (15 m) above mean water level, and would allow train speeds of at least 90 mph (140 km/h).[5]

Planning

[edit]

Initial planning

[edit]
Map of the Portal Bridge and the rail environment it is used in

Opened in 1910, the original Portal Bridge is considered a "choke-point" which reduced the potential speed and capacity of the line.[5][6] according to the chief of Planning and Performance for the Northeast Corridor[5] and New Jersey Transit Executive Director[7][8] The bridge requires millions of dollars of yearly maintenance.[9]

In December 2008, the Federal Railroad Administration approved a $1.34 billion project to replace the Portal Bridge with two new bridges:[6] a two-track bridge to the north, and a two-track bridge to the south.[10] The new bridges were then scheduled to be completed in 2017, at which time the Portal Bridge was to be dismantled. In course of design work the number of tracks on the north bridge has been reduced from three to two.[11]

Design work progressed in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, New Jersey applied for $38.5 million in funding for the replacement from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[12] On January 28, 2010, the federal funds were released as a TIGER grant[13] as part of a larger package of $112 million for the entire Northeast Corridor.[14] The $38.5 million in federal funds were intended for final design for the new bridge.[14][15][16]

The original timeline for the project called for construction of the new bridge to begin in 2010, with the bridge replacement to be complete by 2017. Due to cancellation of the Access to the Region's Core project by New Jersey governor Chris Christie in 2010, as well as to funding issues, this original plan was reduced to a single two-track bridge constructed north of the current bridge with room for a new bridge south of the current bridge left open to follow.[6]

In 2014, design work for the new Portal Bridge North had been completed.[6] Preliminary site-preparation work for one span, Portal Bridge North, began in October 2017 and was expected to be complete in 2019.[17][18][19] A second bridge to the south—Portal Bridge South, which would carry two additional tracks across the Hackensack River—remains unfunded as of 2024.[20]

Funding

[edit]

Progress on the Portal North Bridge had stalled due to lack of funding. In April 2011, Amtrak applied for federal funding of $570 million for construction, with New Jersey expected to commit $150 million.[21][22] As of 2014, however, the project was lacking $940 million in funding.[6][5] The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey planned to contribute $300 million to the project.[23][24][25]


Groundbreaking ceremony for the Portal North Bridge, August 2022

In October 2015, a $16 million TIGER grant was awarded for use to support early construction activities such as realignment of a 138kV transmission monopole, constructing a temporary fiber optic cable pole line, building a finger pier construction access structure, a service access road and a 560-foot retaining wall.[26][27] The work was completed in February 2019.[28][29]

As of 2016, the expected schedule was for engineering phase to begin in 2017 and revenue service to start in 2024.[30] In May 2017, NJ Transit awarded a contract to carry out this work.[31] In June 2017, the Gateway Development Corporation formally applied for federal funding for the project.[32] The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the Environmental Impact Statement for the replacement bridge in August 2017.[33] Construction on the first of two replacement bridges began in October 2017.[18] Amtrak has estimated the cost of the bridge's replacement to be $1.5 billion.[17]

Jersey City, which owns a 14-acre (5.7 ha) parcel originally earmarked for preservation and recreation, will sell it to make way for construction of the bridge.[34]

In June 2018, the State of New Jersey approved $600 million in bonds to finance the project.[35][36][37] Despite state funding, the federal government withheld funds for the project.[38][39] On June 24, 2019, the state governments of New York and New Jersey passed legislation to create the bi-state Gateway Development Commission, whose job it is to oversee the planning, funding, and construction of the rail tunnels and bridges of Gateway Program.[40] In September 2019, NJ Transit submitted a revised plan to the federal government clarifying the "local" contribution, which includes funding from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak.[41]

On February 10, 2020, the replacement project was upgraded to "medium-high" priority by the FTA, thereby becoming eligible for funding under the Capital Investment Grants Program.[42][43] Despite his skepticism of the Gateway Program, President Donald Trump signaled that he would not stand in the way of the Portal Bridge Replacement Project after dinner with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.[44][45] In early July 2020, the FTA approved $767 million in funding for the project. In late May, Amtrak received $55 million from the same agency for the replacement bridge.[46]

Construction

[edit]
Portal North Bridge under construction, January 2025

On October 12, 2021, the NJ Transit board awarded a $1.56 billion construction contract for the new bridge. The first track on the new bridge will be operational in March 2026. The second track will be operational in February 2027, with the project completed in 2027.[47] Construction of the new bridge was given final approval and Notice to Proceed (NTP) in April 2022.[48] After multiple delays, construction on the new bridge began on August 1, 2022.[49] The original Portal Bridge is scheduled to be demolished in July 2028.

On May 13, 2024, Amtrak and NJ Transit announced that the progress of construction has reached the halfway milestone towards completion. Amtrak announced that the project was not only on time but possibly may be completed a year earlier than expected and under the expected budgeted cost of $1.5 billion.[50] The first of the Portal North Bridge's three arches was floated into place in November 2024.[51][52] and the last arch was floated into place in February 2025.[53]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.njtransit.com/portal
  2. ^ Frassinelli, Mike (February 6, 2011). "N.J. senators, Amtrak official to announce new commuter train tunnel project across the Hudson". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Gateway Project" (PDF). Amtrak. February 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Fleisher, Liza; Grossman, Andrew (February 8, 2011). "Amtrak's Plan For New Tunnel Gains Support". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Porter, David (November 15, 2014). "New Jersey's Portal Bridge, bane of the Northeast Corridor, is due for upgrade". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e McGeehan, Patrick (September 25, 2014). "104-Year-Old Portal Bridge Presents $900 Million Problem for Rail Commuters". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  7. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (May 19, 2005). "Repairing New Jersey Bridge May Take a Year, Amtrak Says". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "NJ moves to replace key N.E. Corridor rail bridge". philly.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  9. ^ McGeehan, Patrick (May 19, 2005). "Repairing New Jersey Bridge May Take a Year, Amtrak Says". The New York Times.
  10. ^ Belsen, Ken (December 31, 2008). "Approval Given for New Jersey Rail Bridges". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  11. ^ "Portal Bridge Replacement Project". Amtrak: The Northeast Corridor.
  12. ^ "Feds Open 'Portal' to Expansion of NJ Transit's Network". Tri-State Transportation Campaign. January 8, 2009.
  13. ^ "High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) Program" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  14. ^ a b Frassinelli, Mike (January 28, 2010). "NJ Transit announces $38.5M for Portal Bridge project, names executive director". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  15. ^ "Portal Bridge Capacity Enhancement". Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, United States Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  16. ^ Whiten, Jon (February 8, 2010). "Advocates Want Bike/Ped Path as Part of Portal Bridge Project". Jersey City Independent. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
  17. ^ a b Russ, Hilary (October 13, 2017). "Construction starts on New Jersey bridge, a step to fixing region's rail". Reuters.
  18. ^ a b Tate, Curtis (October 8, 2018). "There's no new Portal Bridge yet. But smaller pieces are falling into place". Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  19. ^ "Work on New Portal Bridge Reaches Milestone, Federal Funding Not Yet in Place". NJ Spotlight. October 26, 2018.
  20. ^ Hicks, Nolan (October 15, 2024). "The Unbuilt Bridge That's Strangling Penn Station". Curbed. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  21. ^ "Amtrak Seeks $1.3 billion for Gateway Project and Next-Generation High-Speed Rail on NEC". Amtrak. April 4, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2011.
  22. ^ Jackson, Herb (April 4, 2011). "Amtrak seeking $1.3B for Hudson River tunnel planning, bridge replacement". The Record (New Jersey). Archived from the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  23. ^ "Port Authority Makes Largest Financial Commitment To The Gateway Program, One Of The Nation's Most Important Infrastructure Projects" (Press release). The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  24. ^ "Port Authority commits money to replace Portal Bridge". Associated Press. October 21, 2016. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  25. ^ "Port Authority approves funds to replace Portal Bridge". Crain's New York Business. October 21, 2016.
  26. ^ Maag, Christopher. "NJ Transit gets $16M grant for rail bridge replacement". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  27. ^ "$16M federal grant will help replace Portal Bridge". NJ.com. October 27, 2015. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  28. ^ "StackPath". www.masstransitmag.com. February 25, 2019.
  29. ^ Higgs, Larry (February 23, 2019). "The rusty old bridge that kills your NJ Transit commute is very close to being replaced". NJ.com.
  30. ^ "Portal North Bridge Project Hudson County, New Jersey New Starts Project Development Information" (PDF). FTA. June 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  31. ^ "NJ TRANSIT Board Awards Construction Contract For Portal Bridge Project" (Press release). NJ Transit. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  32. ^ Rubinstein, Dana (June 1, 2017). "Gateway builders forge ahead amid Trump uncertainty". Politico. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  33. ^ Salant, Jonathan D. (August 2, 2017). "Portal Bridge project clears another hurdle". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved August 30, 2017.
  34. ^ Sullivan, Al (February 1, 2019). "Paving the way for Gateway project". hudsonreporter.com.
  35. ^ "Floating a $600 Million Bond Issue to Build New Portal Bridge". NJ Spotlight. June 12, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  36. ^ "Will new state funding move the feds to chip in for Portal Bridge?". North Jersey. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  37. ^ "NJ Transit board approves $600M bond to replace Portal Bridge". NJBIZ. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  38. ^ Munoz, Daniel J. (September 4, 2018). "First phase of Gateway project 'shovel-ready,' Murphy says". NJBIZ.
  39. ^ Reitmeyer, John (September 5, 2018). "Talk About Stalled Trans-Hudson Tunnel, Portal Bridge Takes on Ominous Tone". NJ Spotlight.
  40. ^ Wanek-Libman, Mischa (June 24, 2019). "Bi-state legislation passed to establish Gateway Development Commission". Mass Transit Magazine. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  41. ^ "NJ Transit Revises Financial Plan for Portal North Bridge". NJ Spotlight. September 16, 2019.
  42. ^ "New Jersey's Portal Bridge OK'd For Federal Funds, But Gateway Project Doesn't Make Cut". WCBS-TV. Associated Press. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  43. ^ Higgs, Larry (February 10, 2020). "Portal Bridge clears last major hurdle before the federal dollars can flow". NJ.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  44. ^ Racioppi, Dustin (June 20, 2020). "Portal Bridge clears major hurdle and likely to get funding for replacement, Murphy says". northjersey.com. North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  45. ^ Knapp, Krystal (June 15, 2020). "NJ governor: Trump's approval of Portal Bridge replacement a 'huge victory'". Traffic and Transit. Planet Princeton. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  46. ^ Cuenca, Oliver (July 1, 2020). "US FTA approves $US 767m funding for New Jersey bridge". North America. International Railway Journal. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  47. ^ Higgs, Larry (October 12, 2021). "'Momentous day' for NJ Transit commuters with $1.56B contract to replace Portal Bridge". NJ.com.
  48. ^ "At last, commuters will see construction of a new Portal Bridge from their train windows". April 7, 2022.
  49. ^ "Breaking ground for new Portal North Bridge in New Jersey". WABC-TV. August 1, 2022. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022.
  50. ^ "Amtrak, NJ Transit announce new Portal North Bridge halfway complete and on budget". ABC7 New York. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  51. ^ "First arch installed for new Portal Bridge; trains expected to cross in spring 2026". News 12 - Default. November 26, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  52. ^ O'Neill, James M. (November 26, 2024). "First arch for new NJ Transit rail bridge barged into place". Bergen Record. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  53. ^ https://www.roi-nj.com/2025/02/20/politics/in-major-milestone-for-nj-transit-final-span-for-portal-north-bridge-arrives/
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