NJ Transit has awarded Skanska Koch Inc. of Carteret, N.J., the construction contract for the lift portion of the new Raritan River Bridge as part of the North Jersey Coast Line (NJCL) project. This contract marks a significant step forward in replacing the existing 116-year-old swing bridge, which currently spans the Raritan River between Perth Amboy and South Amboy. The new bridge will feature a center span that lifts vertically to accommodate marine traffic, replacing the old structure that spins open.
The first phase of the Raritan River Bridge replacement was awarded to George Harms Construction.
“Today’s board authorization advances one of NJ Transit’s most critical resiliency projects, ensuring a more reliable and robust rail link for thousands of daily customers on the North Jersey Coast Line,” said former NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett. “The new Raritan River Bridge will replace a century-old structure, significantly enhancing both operational efficiency and our preparedness for extreme weather events.”
The contract is valued at up to $444,380,524, with a five percent contingency. It covers the construction of the lift bridge and its associated spans, as well as necessary communication, signals, and overhead catenary work.
This replacement will introduce a vertical lift bridge, shifting slightly from the original alignment, but linking to existing NJCL tracks at both ends. The existing bridge, a movable swing-span design, is the only rail link for 17 of the 20 NJCL stations, connecting to Newark and Manhattan, and serves about 11,400 daily passengers.
NJ Transit highlighted that the current bridge, in service since 1908, was not designed to withstand the forces from ocean surges. Although still safe for rail traffic, the bridge sustained significant damage during Superstorm Sandy, including misalignment due to ocean surges and debris impact on the bridge structure.