NJ Transit Opens New Portal Bridge Track

New Portal North Bridge opens first track March 16, replacing 116-year-old swing span

Portal North Bridge Opens First Track March 16

Commuters on the Northeast Corridor will see major improvements starting Monday, March 16, when NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak open the first track on the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny. The opening marks a historic transition from the 116-year-old swing bridge that's caused delays for decades. Governor Mikie Sherrill led a ceremonial first train ride on March 12, officials confirmed.

Fixed Design Ends Decades of Delays

The new bridge rises 50 feet over the Hackensack River, doubling the height clearance and allowing marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail service. The modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span design eliminates the problematic swing mechanism that's disrupted service for commuters traveling the Northeast Corridor, which carries more than 400 trains and 200,000 riders every weekday. The second and final track will be moved onto the new bridge in fall 2026, NJ TRANSIT said.

Largest Construction Award in Agency History

The construction contract, awarded to Skanska/Traylor Bros PNB Joint Venture in October 2021, represents the single largest construction award in NJ TRANSIT's history at $1,559,993,000. The project's funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, New Jersey, New York, and Amtrak, with $766.5 million secured from the Federal Transit Administration. The investment addresses one of the nation's most notorious rail bottlenecks on the busiest corridor in American passenger rail.

Old Bridge Dismantled in 2027

The current Portal Bridge is scheduled to be dismantled in 2027, officials said. Once both tracks are operational on the new bridge by fall 2026, the old swing bridge will be retired after more than a century of service. The transition will be completed in phases to minimize disruption to the hundreds of thousands of daily riders who depend on Northeast Corridor service between New York and New Jersey.

Improved Reliability for Daily Commuters

The new bridge will significantly improve service reliability for the more than 200,000 weekday riders who travel the Northeast Corridor between New York and New Jersey. Commuters can expect fewer delays caused by bridge malfunctions that have plagued the old swing span for years. Moovit provides real-time updates for NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak services along the Northeast Corridor.