State-owned New Jersey Transit is implementing reroutes and modified schedules to facilitate final construction of the new Portal North Bridge. The bridge is part of the overall Gateway Program which aims to enhance transportation and accessibility. NJ Transit officials are urging riders on all rail lines to check temporary schedules online. Moreover, they are warning that most train lines will be affected starting Sunday, Feb.15.

The changes are expected to create spillover impacts on PATH trains, buses, and ferries as riders adjust their routines. Many Midtown Direct trains on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines will divert to Hoboken instead of New York Penn Station. The move is expected to reduce capacity into Manhattan and also probably making peak travel times busier.

Riders should also prepare for modified schedules, potential cancellations, and increased demand on alternative transit options. To help manage crowds, NJ Transit says additional staff will be deployed at Hoboken and Secaucus stations to monitor passenger flow and bus service.

Outlook on the New Portal North Bridge Project in New Jersey

Although funding for the new Portal North Bridge portion of the Gateway Program is secured, there are still uncertainties. One of them is on the Hudson River Tunnel segment where work has remained suspended since Friday. A federal judge could rule as soon as this week on whether federal funding for the tunnel project will be unfrozen. Nonetheless, Amtrak is in the process of transferring rail operations, one track at a time.

The operations are being moved from the century-old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. Transit officials say the disruption marks an important milestone in the long-delayed Gateway Program. If the transition proceeds as planned, passengers traveling between Secaucus and Newark could begin using the new bridge as early as mid-March.

Conversely, New York Governor Kathy Hochul was asked about the tunnel delay. “He’s trying exact revenge on myself and Senator Schumer,” Hochul said. “I don’t know why. That collateral damage is hardworking New Yorkers, and I’m pissed off about that.”

Project Factsheet

• Project Name: New Portal North Bridge.
• Program: Gateway Program
• Developer / Owner: Amtrak
• Program Oversight Authority: Gateway Development Commission (GDC).
• Project Type: Northeast Corridor infrastructure (Replacement of a fixed-span rail bridge)
• Total Investment: $2.4 billion
• Primary Purpose: Replace Portal Swing Bridge

Location & Site Details

• River Crossing: Hackensack Rivers.
• Location: New Jersey
• Corridor: Northeast Corridor (NEC).
• Rail Section: Newark to Secaucus.
• Regional Importance: Critical rail link between New Jersey and New York Penn Station

Construction Status & Scope

• Phase of construction: Final construction and transition to operations.
• Transit of Rail: Movements of rail-ways between old Portal Bridge and new one.
• Track Transfer Method: Track by track.
• Operational Impact:

Changes in the NJ Transit routes.

• Midtown Direct diverted to Hoboken.
• Also decreased Manhattan peaking capacity.
• Heightened demand of PATH, buses and ferries.
• Service on New Bridge to Open: By mid-March.

Developers & Delivery Team

Amtrak

• Role: Project owner.

Gateway Development Commission (GDC)

• Position: Program management, federal-state coordination, funding.

Portal North Bridge Constructors (PNBC)- DESIGNOV-Build Joint Venture.

• Responsibility: Engineering and construction supply.

Skanska USA Civil

• Role: Lead construction partner; civil and structural performance.

Traylor Bros., Inc.

• Role: Marine construction and substructure construction.

Gannett Fleming, Inc.

• Position: Head design and engineering consultant.

New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit).

• Position: Commuter rail operator, in charge of schedule changes during changeover.

Finance and Government Regulation.

• Key Federal Source of Funding: Federal Transit Administration (FTA)
• Rail Safety and Regulatory Oversight: Federal Railroad administration (FRA).
• Funding Status: Bridge component: Fully funded.