GOVERNOR MURPHY, NJ TRANSIT, AND STATE OFFICIALS BREAK GROUND ON NEXT PHASE OF RARITAN RIVER BRIDGE
Construction Begins On Lift Span of New Bridge on North Jersey Coast Line
PERTH AMBOY, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy, joined by NJ TRANSIT and State officials, today celebrated the groundbreaking today of the next critical phase of the new Raritan River Bridge on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL). This kicks off construction and installation of the center span that lifts vertically to allow for marine traffic to pass underneath and will replace the current 117-year-old swing bridge, which rotates open. The bridge connects rail traffic between Perth Amboy and South Amboy across the Raritan River.
"Today, we are coming together in support of our shared mission to build a world-class transportation system, supported by safe, state-of-the-art, and reliable infrastructure," said Governor Phil Murphy. "By breaking ground on the next phase of the Raritan River Bridge, we are one step closer to improving reliability and allowing trains to cross the river at much faster speeds — reducing travel time so commuters can get home in time for dinner or to help their kids with homework after school. Resilient and reliable transportation along the North Jersey Coast Line will keep us on track toward a bright economic future and I am grateful to everyone who helped us reach this milestone."
“Replacing the Raritan River Bridge is essential to strengthening our transportation infrastructure and ensuring safe, reliable service for thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on the North Jersey Coast Line every day,” said Congressman Frank Pallone. This bridge is a critical link for commuters and freight alike – and with climate change fueling more frequent and severe storms, we can’t afford to rely on a structure built over a century ago. I’ve long pushed for resilient infrastructure investments like this, and I’m proud to see federal funding supporting a project that will serve our Central Jersey communities and job centers for generations to come."
“Today’s groundbreaking marks a major milestone in NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to delivering safe, reliable and resilient infrastructure for the people of New Jersey,” said NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Fran O’Connor. “The new Raritan River Bridge will not only strengthen a critical transportation link along the North Jersey Coast Line but also safeguard this essential corridor against future extreme weather events.”
“Breaking ground on the lift span of the new Raritan River Bridge brings us another step closer to a more modern and resilient transportation network,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “This significant investment is a testament to our broader strategy and commitment to modernize all of our aging infrastructure that ensures continued reliability and connectivity for our customers.”
The replacement bridge will be a vertical lift bridge providing a new two-track movable span across the Raritan River, slightly offset from the original alignment, and linking back to the existing NJCL mainline tracks at its northern and southern ends.
The current bridge has been in service since 1908 and was not designed to withstand the lateral forces due to ocean surges. The bridge suffered significant damage during Superstorm Sandy, including movement of the bridge deck out of its normal alignment due to ocean surges against the bridge superstructure and the impact of large, wave-borne debris bearing against the bridge girders.
After the storm passed, inspections revealed the damage, and train services and marine vessel operations were suspended until repairs could be made, resulting in no train service for a period of three weeks. Superstorm Sandy clearly demonstrated the vulnerability of the bridge to extreme weather events.
“This groundbreaking represents a significant milestone in New Jersey’s commitment to establishing a safer and more reliable transit system and will yield dividends to the commuters, families, and businesses who depend on this corridor for years to come,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “As the only rail link connecting most of the North Jersey Coast Line to Newark and Manhattan, this bridge is an essential piece of our transportation network and its replacement marks a major step forward in building the kind of infrastructure New Jersey’s future demands."
"This historic investment is about more than steel and concrete, it’s about protecting the daily lifeline that so many residents rely on,” said Senator Joe Vitale. “Upgrading the Raritan River Bridge will strengthen our region’s infrastructure against the growing threats of climate change, reduce delays, and ensure safe, dependable travel for thousands of Middlesex County commuters who count on this line every day.”
“For Perth Amboy and our neighbors across the river in South Amboy, this project is personal,” said Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez. “This bridge is a daily lifeline for thousands of residents who rely on it to get to work, to school, to medical appointments, and back home to their families. We’ve lived with the challenges of an aging bridge and its replacement is an investment not only in transportation, but in the long-term strength and resilience of our communities.”
“The City of Perth Amboy welcomes this much-needed and long-overdue investment in our waterfront and public infrastructure," said Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin J. Caba. "As the home of the Raritan River Bridge, our city sits at the center of a corridor that connects communities across New Jersey. This replacement is critical to ensuring reliable rail service, protecting our shoreline, and supporting the thousands of commuters and residents whose lives are directly impacted by this structure every day. We are proud to play a central role in this statewide transportation improvement. I thank Governor Murphy, Commissioner O’Connor, and NJ TRANSIT for their partnership and for making this investment in the City of Perth Amboy as the foundation for stronger service across the region.”
“I am very pleased to attend the groundbreaking of the new Raritan River Railroad Bridge,” said South Amboy Mayor Fred A. Henry. “I would like to thank Governor Murphy and NJ Transit President and CEO Kolluri for their commitment to serving the thousands of commuters who pass through South Amboy on a daily basis. This critical infrastructure project is so important to maintaining the economic welfare of our great state of New Jersey.”
"Middlesex County Building and Construction Trades Council looks forward to working with NJ Transit and Skanska Koch on the Raritan River Bridge Replacement Project. Utilizing union labor ensures a highly skilled workforce that adheres to strict safety and quality standards. We thank Governor Murphy and NJ Transit for bringing us all together and ensuring that organized labor is at the table every step of the way," said Bernard Cooke, President of the Middlesex County Building and Construction Trades Council.
“The Raritan River Bridge replacement project is a testament to what strategic infrastructure investment can do—not just for transportation, but for working families and the regional economy,” said Assistant Executive Secretary – Treasurer of Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and member of NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors Anthony Abrantes. “This bridge has carried generations across the Raritan for more than a century, and its replacement ensures that the next hundred years are built on a foundation of safety, resilience, and opportunity. Projects like this are critical to workforce development, offering real careers with family-sustaining wages and training that prepares workers for the future. We’re proud to be part of a project that honors the history of this region while laying the tracks for economic growth and mobility across New Jersey.”
The construction contract was awarded to Skanska Koch Inc of Carteret, New Jersey in the amount not to exceed $444,380,524, plus five percent for contingencies for the construction of the lift bridge and flanking spans, communication, signals, overhead catenary and other associated site work.
The approaches to the new bridge, awarded under a separate contract in June 2020, are currently nearing completion. The overall replacement project is being funded in part through a more than $446-million grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Under a separate authorization, NJ TRANSIT repaired the supporting piers of the current bridge to allow its continued use while a new bridge was designed and built.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 263 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 166 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.