Portal North Bridge
| Company type | Infrastructure project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Railroad transportation |
| Headquarters | Kearny and Secaucus , United States |
Area served | Northeast Corridor |
| Products | Railroad bridge for Amtrak and NJ Transit |
| Owner | Amtrak, NJ Transit |
| Parent | Gateway Program |
Portal North Bridge
The Portal North Bridge is a railroad bridge currently being built to substitute the existing Portal Bridge. It carries the Northeast Corridor (NEC) across the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus, New Jersey. Situated to the west of Secaucus Junction and east of the Sawtooth Bridges, it will accommodate both Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.
This structure represents a crucial element of the Gateway Program, which seeks to upgrade and expand the NEC segment linking Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station. The bridge is designed as a fixed-span network arch with a vertical clearance of , allowing train speeds of no less than .
Initial planning
The original Portal Bridge, opened in 1910, has become outdated and restricts both speed and capacity along the Northeast Corridor. It has been described as a "bottleneck" and the “Achilles’ heel of the Northeast Corridor”. Maintaining this bridge costs millions annually.
In December 2008, the Federal Railroad Administration authorized a $1.34 billion initiative to replace Portal Bridge with two new bridges: a three-track northern bridge and a two-track southern bridge. The project was initially expected to finish by 2017, at which point the old bridge would be removed. Subsequent design changes reduced the northern bridge from three tracks to two.
In 2009, New Jersey applied for $38.5 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to support replacement efforts. On January 28, 2010, federal funds were released as part of a $112 million TIGER grant package for the entire Northeast Corridor, with $38.5 million allocated specifically for final design work.
Originally, construction was planned to commence in 2010 with completion by 2017. However, after Governor Chris Christie canceled the Access to the Region's Core project in 2010 and due to financial constraints, plans were scaled back to constructing only a single two-track northern bridge while leaving provisions for a future southern bridge.
By 2014, design work for Portal Bridge North was finalized. Initial site preparation began in October 2017 and was projected to conclude by 2019. Funding for a second southern bridge carrying two more tracks has yet to be secured .
Funding
Advancement on the Portal North Bridge faced delays due to insufficient funding. In April 2011, Amtrak requested $570 million in federal construction funds, with New Jersey expected to contribute $150 million. By 2014, there remained a $940 million shortfall. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey planned to provide $300 million toward the project.
In October 2015, early construction activities such as relocating transmission monopoles and building access roads received a $16 million TIGER grant; this phase was completed by February 2019. Engineering work was scheduled to begin in 2017, aiming for revenue service by 2024. NJ Transit awarded a construction contract in May 2017, while Gateway Development Corporation sought federal funding in June. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) approved the Environmental Impact Statement in August 2017, allowing construction on the first replacement bridge to start in October that year. Amtrak estimates total replacement costs at approximately $1.5 billion.
To facilitate construction, Jersey City agreed to sell a 14-acre site originally intended for preservation.
In June 2018, New Jersey authorized $600 million in bonds for project financing despite initial withholding of federal funds. On June 24, 2019, New York and New Jersey formed the bi-state Gateway Development Commission tasked with overseeing planning, funding, and construction of Gateway Program infrastructure. In September 2019, NJ Transit updated its financial strategy detailing local contributions from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak.
On February 10, 2020, the FTA elevated the project’s status to "medium-high" priority under its Capital Investment Grants Program, making it eligible for federal funding. Although initially skeptical about the Gateway Program, President Donald Trump expressed support for replacing Portal Bridge after discussions with New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. By early July 2020, FTA approved $767 million in funding; additionally, Amtrak received $55 million from FTA toward bridge replacement costs.
Construction
On October 12, 2021, the NJ Transit board awarded a contract valued at $1.56 billion for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge. The plan schedules the first track to become operational by March 2026, followed by the second track in February 2027, with the entire project expected to conclude in 2027. Final authorization and the Notice to Proceed were issued in April 2022, leading to the commencement of construction on August 1, 2022. The existing Portal Bridge is slated for demolition in July 2028.
By May 13, 2024, Amtrak and NJ Transit reported that the project had reached its midpoint, progressing on schedule and with the potential to be completed a year ahead of plan while staying under the $1.5 billion budget. The installation of the first of three arches took place in November 2024, with the final arch set in place by February 2025.
See also
- List of crossings of the Hackensack River
- List of bridges, tunnels, and cuts in Hudson County, New Jersey
- List of NJ Transit movable bridges
- List of Northeast Corridor infrastructure
- High-speed rail in the United States
External links
- Portal North Bridge – Amtrak
- Portal North Bridge – New Jersey Transit