Construction begins on the new North Portal Bridge in Kearny

KEARNY, NJ (PIX11) – Commuters can watch as crews build a new bridge in Kearny, New Jersey. It will replace the current structure, which is 114 years old.

Amtrak and NJ Transit gave PIX11 News a look inside the construction site for the new North Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River.

The first of three sheets arrived this week and is about 75% complete. The main bridge structures will be prefabricated in the north of the country and shipped by barge down the Hudson River.

Managers say everything is on time and within budget. Passenger operations are planned for early 2026.

Jaidev Sankar, Amtrak’s vice president of infrastructure product delivery, is watching the project closely. “Every time I drive by, I am amazed at the steady progress of this work,” he said.

NJ Transit is leading this construction. The two agencies share infrastructure and are working to repair and modernize facilities around their systems. This section will have new overhead power supplies. Old lines fail and cause delays.

Kevin Corbett, president and CEO of NJ Transit, says new overhead line power allows for better wiring and is less affected by weather, which can cause delays.

The agency managers are looking forward to service improvements and further projects. They call the bridge a way to measure proof of performance. “This is a testament to collaboration. We work with NJTransit, contractors and unions. It shows what we can achieve when we work together and have a common goal,” said Sankar.

Further projects are taking place throughout the region. Additional funding is included in the budget of Amtrak, which operates Penn Station and many of its assets. “It is a huge win for the people of the North East to see that we can deliver major projects on time and within budget. It builds momentum,” Corbett said.

According to NJTransit, the portal bridge project was originally funded during President Trump’s first term. Local transportation leaders believe the infrastructure money will continue to flow because it has bipartisan support.

Passengers are expected to cross the new bridge between Newark and Secaucus by early 2026. Until then, they will continue to monitor the construction of new tracks.

When the new bridge opens, the other one will be demolished. There are plans for a second project, but this project is not funded.