NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak Prepare to Open First Track on New Portal North Bridge

Ceremonial First Train Ride Over the New Bridge Marks Major Milestone For Service Reliability on Northeast Corridor; Second Track To Be Cutover in the Fall

KEARNY, NJ — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak celebrated a major milestone at the Portal North Bridge in Kearny by riding a ceremonial train over the bridge, which will have one track officially go into passenger service on Monday, March 16. This marks a historic moment in transferring service from the current 116-year-old swing bridge, which has long been a source of delays. The second and final track will be moved onto the new bridge in the fall, providing increased reliability to rail customers for generations to come.

“Today marks a historic step forward for New Jersey’s transportation future. For decades, the old Portal Bridge has been a source of delays and frustration for the hundreds of thousands of commuters and travelers who rely on the Northeast Corridor every day,” said New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. “With the first train now crossing the new Portal North Bridge, we are delivering a modern, reliable piece of infrastructure that will strengthen our economy, improve the daily commute and support the entire Northeast Corridor.”

“The old Portal Bridge was completed just a few months after Mother Theresa was born. Infrastructure that old creates delays, delays ruin birthday parties, preclude family dinners, and create stress for someone just trying to get home after a long day at work. The growth of New Jersey relies on finishing projects like the Portal Bridge and the Gateway Tunnel. Because New Jersey will only keep growing if we keep moving,” said Congresswoman Nellie Pou.

“Today’s first train across the new Portal North Bridge is a major milestone for the Gateway Project and for New Jersey,” said Congressman Rob Menendez. “This historic moment brings us closer to a stronger, more reliable rail network but more work remains. I look forward to working with our Congressional delegation, our partners in state and local government, and organized labor to ensure New Jersey is at the forefront of America’s transit revival.”

“This is a major milestone. After years of fighting to claw back federal infrastructure dollars for Jersey, we’re finally seeing the results,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The new Portal North Bridge will replace a more than 116-year-old bridge held together with band-aids that’s caused constant delays and headaches for commuters. This project means faster, more reliable trains, good-paying union jobs, and a stronger economy.”

“Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s investment, American families traveling along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor will experience smoother, faster rides with the opening of this new track,” said Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator David Fink. “Under Secretary Duffy, USDOT is focused on building big, beautiful infrastructure, and this certainly is one of Amtrak’s largest projects. We look forward to the completion of Portal North Bridge later this year.”

“Replacing the aging Portal Bridge with a modern structure will significantly improve reliability for the hundreds of trains that cross the Hackensack River every day,” said NJ DOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chair Priya Jain. “This progress reflects years of collaboration between federal, state, and regional partners and brings us one step closer to delivering the resilient, 21st-century infrastructure our commuters, residents and businesses depend on.”

“The segment of the Northeast Corridor between Newark and New York is the busiest stretch of rail in the country, carrying more than 400 trains and 200-thousand NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak riders every weekday,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “The first train over the new Portal North Bridge marks a major milestone toward completing one of the most consequential infrastructure projects in the nation and delivering the reliability our customers expect and deserve.”

“The Portal North Bridge represents the first major bridge project cutover completed on the Northeast Corridor, and we’re proud to celebrate this tremendous milestone with our partners at NJ TRANSIT, Governor Sherrill, and the US DOT,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris. “You’ve heard about the benefits that this new bridge will bring for a more reliable trip, and starting Monday, it’s finally time to start experiencing them.”

The ceremonial first train was led by NJ TRANSIT’s locomotive wrapped in graphics celebrating America’s 250^th birthday.

On February 13, NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak began critical work to transfer one track of rail service from the old Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge over the Hackensack River. The work required temporary service adjustments to NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak schedules.

On Sunday, March 15^th, regular NJ TRANSIT service schedules will resume. Customers are encouraged to consult the timetables for the latest schedules HERE.

Portal North Bridge – Project Background

The Portal North Bridge is a new modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge that will improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The new Portal North Bridge will rise 50 feet over the Hackensack River, doubling the height clearance and will allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.

The project eliminates the 116-year-old swing bridge, which has been the enduring source of major service disruptions for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers traveling on the Northeast Corridor. The new bridge will provide:

• Improved reliability and fewer bridge-related delays
• Increased operational resilience along the Northeast Corridor
• A modern structure designed to support future capacity growth

The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak. In January 2021, Governor Murphy announced the signing of a Full Funding Grant Agreement which secured $766.5 million in Federal Transit Administration funding to support the project’s construction.

In October 2021, Governor Murphy and NJ TRANSIT announced the approval of a $1,559,993,000 construction contract awarded to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture (STJV) for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge. The contract represents the single largest construction award in NJ TRANSIT’s history.

The Portal North Bridge project spans 2.44 miles of the Northeast Corridor line and includes construction of retaining walls, deep foundations, concrete piers, structural steel bridge spans, rail systems, demolition of the existing bridge, and related incidental works. The project is a critical component of the larger Gateway Program, which will eventually double rail capacity between Newark and New York.

Estimated Materials Quantities:

• 45M LB (23K Tons) of Steel
• 219K CY of Concrete
• 185K LF (35+ Miles) of Pipe Piles
• 20K LF (3+ Miles) of Drilled Shafts
• 4,850 LF of Retaining Walls
• 3,289 LF of Construction Access Platforms

The current Portal Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled in 2027.