FRA awards $91.5 million to Portal North Bridge replacement

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded $91.5 million to Amtrak and New Jersey Transit for the project to replace the 110-year-old Portal North Bridge on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) announced yesterday.

The award includes $55.1 million to Amtrak to fund construction of a new bridge span above the Hackensack River, and $36.4 million to NJ Transit to reconstruct an electrical substation in Kearny, New Jersey, that powers NEC main line services. The substation was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The new bridge span will be built with 50-foot clearance above the river, negating the need to open for passing marine traffic. 

Currently, the swing-style span is notorious for breaking down and getting stuck in the open position, stranding commuters and grinding Amtrak and NJ Transit service to a halt, according to a press release issued by Menendez’s office.