Goethals Bridge
| Company type | Infrastructure / Bridge |
|---|---|
| Industry | Transportation |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Headquarters | Elizabeth, New Jersey / Staten Island, New York , United States |
| Owner | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Website | www |
Goethals Bridge
The Goethals Bridge () comprises a pair of cable-stayed structures that connect Elizabeth, New Jersey, with Staten Island, New York, spanning the Arthur Kill waterway. This modern bridge succeeded the original 1928 cantilever design and is managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Situated roughly south of Newark Liberty International Airport, the bridge bears the name of Major General George Washington Goethals, who served as the Port Authority’s first consulting engineer and played a key role in overseeing the construction of the Panama Canal.
The eastbound segment was inaugurated on June 10, 2017, coinciding with the closure of the former bridge. The dismantling of the old structure commenced in January 2018, while the new westbound portion opened on May 21, 2018.
Original bridge
The initial Goethals Bridge featured a four-lane steel truss cantilever design crafted by John Alexander Low Waddell, who also engineered the nearby Outerbridge Crossing. It had a central span measuring , extended in length, with a width of , and provided vertical clearance of .
Planning for a new bridge
Beginning in 1985, the Port Authority explored 27 different options aimed at enhancing capacity between Staten Island and New Jersey. By 1990, leadership determined that constructing a new parallel span was the most effective approach. The final environmental impact statement was released in October 1997; however, officials from Staten Island opposed the plan due to concerns about increased traffic volumes.
A study conducted by the Port Authority in 2001 recommended completely replacing the bridge. Various design alternatives were proposed alongside a "no build" scenario. The new structure was planned to include extra traffic lanes, dedicated high-speed E-ZPass lanes, and upgrades to Interstate 278 from exit 4 in New York (NY 440 southbound) to Route 439 in New Jersey. After the replacement opened, demolition of the original bridge began in January 2018.
New bridge
Early proposals from 2006 suggested twin three-lane bridges positioned north and south of the existing alignment; these plans were later discarded due to FAA height limitations related to Newark Liberty International Airport. The finalized design consists of single-span cable-stayed twin bridges with towers restricted to a height of 272 feet to avoid interfering with flight paths and reduce ice accumulation risks.
Public information sessions were conducted in both Staten Island and Elizabeth, followed by formal hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) held in July 2009.
All considered alternatives featured single-level cable-stayed twin spans supported by towers rising above the Arthur Kill shipping channel. Each main span accommodates three traffic lanes along with inner and outer shoulders. The westbound bridge includes a walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. Permanent access roads beneath the bridge facilitate maintenance operations and security measures. The gap between spans was designed to allow for potential future mass transit options.
Studies on mass transit concluded that bus-only lanes were not cost-effective but endorsed high-occupancy vehicle lanes during peak periods if justified by traffic demand. Provisions for rail transit were excluded but designed to enable future retrofitting; freight rail connections were deemed financially unfeasible.
Approach enhancements involved improvements to the New Jersey Turnpike exit 13 toll plaza, Staten Island toll plaza, and the Interstate 278/NY 440 interchange. Separately, the New Jersey Department of Transportation reviewed plans for full movement capabilities at the Interstate 278/U.S. Route 1/9 interchange to coincide with the bridge replacement project.
On April 24, 2013, preliminary funding amounting to $1.5 billion was approved by the Port Authority, with groundbreaking occurring in May 2014. The original bridge closed on June 9, 2017; eastbound traffic shifted to the new eastbound span on June 10, followed by opening of westbound traffic lanes shortly thereafter. Initially, two lanes operated in each direction on the eastbound span until completion of the westbound structure restored pedestrian and bicycle access.
Traffic transitioned onto the new westbound span on May 21, 2018. Although delayed from an initial mid-2018 target, pedestrian and bicycle pathways officially opened on March 4, 2020.
The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project received several accolades including ENR New York Best Projects, an Excellence in Safety award, and ENR New York’s Project of the Year for 2018.
Tolls
Beginning January 5, 2025, the toll-by-mail charge for vehicles traveling from New Jersey into New York City will be $18.31 for both cars and motorcycles; passenger vehicles heading westbound into New Jersey will not incur any toll fees. Drivers using E-ZPass issued by New Jersey or New York benefit from reduced rates: $14.06 for cars and $13.06 for motorcycles during off-peak periods, and $16.06 for cars and $15.06 for motorcycles during peak times. E-ZPass devices issued outside these two states are billed at the toll-by-mail amount. Motorists making more than three trips monthly are eligible for the "Staten Island Bridges Plan," which lowers the toll to $8.03 per trip for cars at any time of day. Effective July 2025, the Mid-Tier toll will increase to $18.72, while the toll-by-mail rate will rise to $22.38.
Toll collection is exclusively applied to eastbound vehicles; westbound tolls were discontinued in August 1970 when eastbound tolls were doubled. This adjustment was part of a coordinated change across eleven other crossings between New York and New Jersey along a 130-mile stretch of the Hudson River.
On September 4, 2019, open-road cashless tolling was introduced, eliminating traditional toll booths and cash transactions. Overhead gantry cameras capture license plate information from vehicles without E-ZPass transponders, sending bills by mail, whereas E-ZPass users are electronically recognized through their transponders as they pass beneath the gantries.
See also
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New Jersey
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in New York (state)
External links
- Goethals Bridge Official Site – Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
- Goethals Bridge Replacement
- Articles with short description
- 2017 establishments in New York (state)
- 2017 establishments in New Jersey
- Bicyclable and walkable bridges on the Interstate Highway System
- Bike paths in New Jersey
- Bike paths in New York City
- Bridges in Staten Island
- Bridges in Union County, New Jersey
- Bridges completed in 2017
- Buildings and structures in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Cable-stayed bridges in the United States
- Interstate 78
- Interstate vehicle bridges in the United States
- Port Authority of New York and New Jersey crossings
- Road bridges in New York City
- Road bridges in New Jersey
- Steel bridges in the United States
- Toll bridges in New York City
- Toll bridges in New Jersey
- Tolled sections of Interstate Highways
- Transportation in Elizabeth, New Jersey
- Transportation projects in New York City