The Portal Bridge is a key component of the larger Gateway Program that includes tunnels under the Hudson River. Fixing the Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River will provide tremendous relief to NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters.
The New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ Transit) Board of Directors this week approved a Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to construct a new Portal North Bridge, according to a press release from the office of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
"The FFGA marks the final stage of the Capital Investment Grant process to fund the $1.8 billion new fixed span across the Hackensack River," according to the release. The bridge is a source spot for commuters on the Northeast Corridor, where mechanical issues cause frequent delays on NJ Transit and Amtrak trains. The new Portal North Bridge is a key component in the larger Gateway Program to expand and renovate the Northeast Corridor rail route between New York and New Jersey.
The project will address critical issues plaguing the Portal Bridge by eliminating the bridge's current moveable span, improving reliability, increasing train speeds, and removing conflicts with maritime traffic.
"The new Portal North Bridge is fully designed and fully permitted, having received a Record-of-Decision from the Federal Railroad Administration in 2013, which was adopted by the FTA in August 2017," according to the release.
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Aging, obsolete, and deteriorating bridges affect both road and rail. The 104-year-old Portal Bridge, a swing bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey that frequently fails to close properly, tops Amtrak's list for replacement.
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