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6/25/2025
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey Transit leaders and state officials yesterday broke ground on the next critical phase of the new Raritan River Bridge project on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL).
The celebration kicked off construction and installation of the center span that lifts vertically to allow for marine traffic to pass underneath and will replace the current 117-year-old swing bridge, which rotates open. The bridge connects rail traffic between Perth Amboy and South Amboy across the Raritan River, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.
Awarded to Skanska Koch Inc., the $444 million construction contract includes 5% for contingencies for the construction of the lift bridge and flanking spans, communication, signals, overhead catenary and other associated site work. The overall replacement project is being funded in part by a $446 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration.
The replacement structure will be a vertical lift bridge providing a new two-track movable span across the Raritan River, slightly offset from the original alignment, and linking back to the existing NJCL mainline tracks at its northern and southern ends. The existing bridge has been in service since 1908 and was not designed to withstand the lateral forces due to ocean surges.
The bridge suffered significant damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, including movement of the bridge deck out of its normal alignment due to ocean surges against the bridge superstructure and the impact of large, wave-borne debris bearing against the bridge girders.
"By breaking ground on the next phase of the Raritan River Bridge, we are one step closer to improving reliability and allowing trains to cross the river at much faster speeds," Murphy said. "Resilient and reliable transportation along the North Jersey Coast Line will keep us on track toward a bright economic future."