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3/16/2026
Passenger-rail service is slated to begin today over one track of the new Portal North Bridge in Kearny, New Jersey.
Late last week, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined New Jersey Transit and Amtrak officials to mark the occasion by riding a ceremonial train over the new structure, which crosses the Hackensack River. The ride marked a historic moment in transferring service from the 116-year-old swing bridge — long a source of train delays — to the new structure, NJ Transit officials said in a press release.
The Portal North Bridge is a two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge designed to improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The second track will be moved onto the new bridge in the fall, providing increased reliability to passenger-rail riders.
The new structure rises 50 feet over the river, doubling the height clearance and enabling marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic, NJ Transit officials said.
“With the first train now crossing the new Portal North Bridge, we are delivering a modern, reliable piece of infrastructure that will strengthen our economy, improve the daily commute and support the entire Northeast Corridor," said Sherrill.