Not all transit construction involves the Gateway project — but all are just as important to users.
On a hot Tuesday morning, Gov. Phil Murphy, NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri and other state and local officials, celebrated the groundbreaking of the next critical phase of the new Raritan River Bridge on the North Jersey Coast Line.
The event signals the start of 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,” Murphy said.
“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.”
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.
NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Fran O’Connor said the groundbreaking marks a major milestone in NJ TRANSIT’s commitment to delivering safe, reliable and resilient infrastructure.
“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,” he said.
Kolluri agreed.
“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,” he said. “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 event was applauded by union leaders such as Bernard Cooke, President of the Middlesex County Building and Construction Trades Council.
“Middlesex County Building and Construction Trades Council looks forward to working with NJ Transit and Skanska Koch on the Raritan River Bridge Replacement Project,” he said. “Utilizing union labor ensures a highly skilled workforce that adheres to strict safety and quality standards. We thank Gov. Murphy and NJ Transit for bringing us all together and ensuring that organized labor is at the table every step of the way.”
Anthony Abrantes, the assistant executive secretary – treasurer of Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters and member of NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors, agreed.
“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,” he said. “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 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.
