NJ Transit OKs Portal North Bridge construction contract

New Jersey Transit's board has approved a $1.56 billion contract with a Skanska/Traylor Bros joint venture for the construction of the new Portal North Bridge.

Its the largest contract award in the agency's history, according to a press release issued by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office.

A critical part of the Gateway Program to expand and renovate the Northeast corridor, the project will eliminate issues caused by operation and maintenance of the existing 110-year-old swing bridge.

The new bridge will be a modern two track, high level and fixed-span structure that will help improve service and capacity along the Northeast Corridor. It will rise 50 feet over the Hackensack River and allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.

The contract involves 2.44 miles of the Northeast Corridor and includes construction of retaining walls, deep foundations, concrete piers, structural steel bridge spans and rail systems, as well as the demolition of the existing bridge and related incidental works. Work is anticipated to take about five-and-a-half years to complete.

The project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, NJ Transit and Amtrak. In January, Murphy announced the signing of a full funding grant agreement that secured $766.5 million in federal funding to support construction.