Traffic & Transit
NJ Transit Gives Update On North Jersey Coast's Raritan River Bridge
The new bridge is supposed to be completed in 2026. Once the new bridge is built, the old bridge will be demolished, and likely blown up.
SOUTH AMBOY, NJ — This week, NJ Transit gave an update on its six-year project to replace the drawbridge over the Raritan River:
NJ Transit is building a new drawbridge to carry the North Jersey Coast train line over the mouth of Raritan Bay, in between Perth Amboy and South Amboy. The existing 116-year-old drawbridge, in use since 1908, was damaged in Superstorm Sandy.
Transit started the project in 2020, with a projected completion date of 2026 for the new bridge. Once the new bridge is completed, the old bridge will be demolished, and likely blown up.
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This week, NJ Transit awarded a second construction contract to Skanska Koch, Inc. of Carteret, for $444,380,524.
The current bridge has been in service since 1908 and was not designed to withstand the lateral forces due to ocean surges. Its railroad ties buckled when Atlantic Ocean seawater flooded the tracks during Sandy, and saltwater eroded the supports that hold the bridge up.
Find out what's happening in Matawan-Aberdeenfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
NJ Transit repaired the supporting piers of the current bridge to allow it to continue to carry North Jersey Coast line trains while a new bridge was designed and built. The new bridge will have a center span that lifts vertically to allow for boat traffic to pass underneath. The existing bridge swings open to allow boats to pass through.
The new bridge will also be able to accommodate Conrail freight rail.
The bridge over the mouth of Raritan Bay is a vital link for anyone on the Jersey Shore who takes NJ Transit: It is the role rail link to connect 17 Jersey Shore towns to Newark, the airport and Manhattan. Approximately 11,400 customers use the North Jersey Coast line daily, said NJ Transit this week.
“The new Raritan River Bridge will replace a century-old structure, significantly enhancing both operational efficiency and our preparedness for extreme weather events," said former NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett, who just resigned this week and was replaced by Kris Kolluri.
Learn more about the entire project here:
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