Portal Bridge Capacity Enhancement

PACO as a subconsultant to the tri-venture team of Gannett Fleming, Jacobs and HNTB is providing Configuration Management and related services for the New Jersey Transit Portal Bridge Enhancement.

Project Overview. The Portal Bridge is an almost 100-year old, two-track, moveable swing-span rail bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey between the cities of Kearny and Secaucus.  Built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Portal Bridge began operation in 1910 providing direct service between Newark Pennsylvania Station and the newly constructed Pennsylvania Station in New York City.  Today, four of New Jersey Transit's rail lines (393 trains daily in each direction) utilize the Portal Bridge.  AMTRAK operates 103 scheduled trains in both directions over this segment of the Northeast Corridor.

The century-old structure is nearing the end of its economic life and has insufficient capacity to accommodate future transportation needs.  In addition to heavy usage by New Jersey Transit and AMTRAK, the Hackensack River crossing must also be opened to allow marine traffic to pass.  The New Jersey Portal Bridge Capacity project will evaluate alternatives including replacement, rehabilitation or modification of the existing bridge along with the construction of an additional bridge for added capacity to meet anticipated demand projections for 2030.  This evaluation is necessary to improve existing AMTRAK and New Jersey Transit rail operations and allow for planned future infrastructure improvements to support growth and mobility.