Bridge Replacement Project Underway

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, NJ TRANSIT CEO Kevin Corbett, State Assembly Speaker Coughlin and a host of other dignitaries attended a groundbreaking ceremony September 15 in South Amboy for one of the largest projects in the NJ TRANSIT Resilience Program.

The Raritan River Bridge project will replace a 112-year-old railroad swing-span bridge that was damaged during Superstorm Sandy with a new lift-span bridge, providing more reliable service for customers on the North Jersey Coast Line and for marine traffic on the Raritan River.

The new bridge will integrate resilient structural designs and materials to withstand future storm surges and be significantly less vulnerable to severe weather events. Among the resilient components of the new bridge: new reinforced concrete piers on piles; new steel superstructure; new drive motor and electrical controls; tie-ins to existing tracks; vertical adjustment of existing track; and electrical catenary relocation.

The existing bridge, which spans the Raritan River between South Amboy and Perth Amboy and also serves Conrail freight trains, will remain in service until the new bridge is completed. The cost of the replacement project is estimated at $595 million, with $446 million paid for through a Federal Transit Administration grant.