Newark Drawbridge
| Company type | Swing bridge |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport infrastructure |
| Founded | 1903 |
| Headquarters | Newark and Harrison , United States |
Area served | Passaic River crossing between Newark and Harrison, New Jersey |
| Products | Rail bridge (Montclair-Boonton Line, Morris and Essex Lines) |
| Owner | New Jersey Transit |
The Newark Drawbridge, also referred to as the Morristown Line Bridge, is a railroad bridge that crosses the Passaic River between the cities of Newark and Harrison, New Jersey. This swing bridge is situated 11th upstream from where the river empties into Newark Bay. Commissioned in 1903, ownership and operation of the bridge fall under New Jersey Transit.
History
Rail connections over the Passaic were primarily developed to link western regions through the Hackensack Meadows to Bergen Hill, facilitating access to Hudson River terminals via tunnels and cuts.
In 1836, the Morris and Essex Railroad secured a route from Orange to Newark, initially relying on the New Jersey Rail Road crossing at Centre Street to reach Paulus Hook terminal in Jersey City. By 1855, it had constructed its own bridge over the Passaic River. During the early 1860s, the railroad extended through the Kearny Meadows and began utilizing the Long Dock Tunnel to connect with Hoboken.
At the turn of the 20th century, the railroad elevated its tracks approaching the river—previously running at street level along Division Street in Newark—and erected the present-day bridge. The bridge was later repositioned upstream along this newly established alignment.
In 1945, the Morris and Essex Railroad merged into the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad. Subsequently, DL&W combined with the Erie Railroad in 1960 to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad, which was incorporated into Conrail in 1976. Since 1983, all passenger rail services on this corridor have been operated by New Jersey Transit.
Operations
The lower section of the Passaic River below the Dundee Dam experiences tidal influence and remains navigable; however, due to minimal marine traffic, openings of the drawbridge are infrequent. Regulations established in 1998 require a 24-hour advance notice for any drawbridge operation. Located at approximately milepost 7.48, this bridge exclusively supports New Jersey Transit rail operations, serving the Montclair-Boonton Line along with both branches of the Morris and Essex Lines, including the Morristown Line and Gladstone Branch. It is positioned just east of Newark Broad Street Station, which is the initial stop after routes from both Hoboken Terminal and Secaucus Junction merge. In 2004, NJT initiated an evaluation study to determine the bridge’s condition and develop plans for its eventual replacement. A maintenance and repair initiative costing $23 million was carried out between 2009 and 2010, funded by NJT and performed by contractor Skanska.
See also
- Lower Hack Lift
- Bergen Tunnels
- Timeline of Jersey City area railroads
- List of crossings of the Lower Passaic River
- List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
- NJT movable bridges
External links
- Passaic River Railroad Bridge at Bridgehunter.com
- William Stickel Memorial Bridge and NJ Transit Railroad Bridge photograph by Ronald C. Saari
- Articles with short description
- Bridges completed in 1903
- Bridges in Newark, New Jersey
- Bridges in Hudson County, New Jersey
- Railroad bridges in New Jersey
- Swing bridges in the United States
- Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad bridges
- NJ Transit bridges
- Bridges over the Passaic River
- Steel bridges in the United States
- 1903 establishments in New Jersey