This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
12/13/2024
New Jersey Transit recently reached two benchmarks on major infrastructure resiliency projects: the Raritan River Bridge reconstruction and the County Yard/Delco Lead storage and inspection facility.
NJ Transit's board on Dec. 11 awarded a $444.4 million contract to Skanska Koch Inc. to construct the lift portion of the new Raritan River Bridge on the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL).
The construction contract calls for an additional 5% payment for contingencies for the construction of the lift bridge and flanking spans, communication, signals, overhead catenary and other associated site work, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.
The approaches to the new bridge are under construction under the separate, first contract awarded in June 2020. The replacement project is being partially funded with a $446-million grant from the Federal Transit Administration.
The new Raritan River Bridge will span between the Perth Amboy and South Amboy rail stations with a connect that lifts vertically to allow for marine traffic. It will replace the current 116-year-old swing bridge, which spins open.
The Raritan River Bridge is the only rail link for 17 of the 20 NJCL stations to connect to Newark and Manhattan, NJ Transit officials said. NJCL serves 11,400 daily riders and makes 22,800 passenger trips per weekday. The line also accommodates Conrail freight services.
The current bridge was not designed to withstand lateral forces during ocean surges. While still safe for train travel, the bridge sustained significant damage during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Meanwhile, NJ Transit yesterday broke ground on its County Yard and Delco Lead Storage and Inspection facility in New Brunswick, which is designed to create a storage solution for rail cars and locomotives with greater protection against flooding. Located along the Northeast Corridor, the project also includes a separate service and inspection facility on adjacent ground to quickly return equipment to service.
The project involves the reconstruction of four miles of the existing Delco lead track; the construction of a one-mile-long adjacent track from County Yard to North Brunswick; construction of a 1,250-foot-long service and inspection facility featuring spare parts storage, two 12-car inspection tracks and five 12-car storage tracks; and construction of a crew quarters and employee parking lot at County Yard.
The Federal Railroad Administration is contributing $184.5 million to that project.