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The National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) and the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) are advancing the Portal North Bridge project to improve rail capacity and operations over the Hackensack River in Hudson County, New Jersey. The new bridge will replace the aging swing-span Portal Bridge with a two-track fixed structure spanning approximately 2.44 miles. The project includes a 3,660-foot-long western approach span, a 2,540-foot eastern approach span, and a 1,200-foot main span crossing the river with a 50-foot clearance, eliminating the need for openings to river traffic.
The alignment crosses marshlands, limiting access and requiring innovative construction solutions. Four work trestles, totaling 3,400 feet, have been completed, with two remaining in place—one as a permanent fishing pier and another for maintenance access and a future bike trail.
Key challenges include coordinating outages with Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT, addressing catenary structures, and working within the active rail corridor. Advanced technologies, such as automated crane swing limiters and engineered fill, allow critical work to proceed safely and efficiently with minimal disruption to rail operations.
The main span features four drilled-shaft foundations, each with eight 8-foot-diameter shafts extending to bedrock. Two foundations are within the river, requiring temporary platforms and heavy precast components installed with high-capacity jacks.
The project involves eight new bridge structures comprising 55 spans and 47 million pounds of structural steel. The 1,200-foot main span, formed of three steel tied arches, is being pre-assembled at a yard in Coeymans, NY, and floated down the Hudson River. The spans are being installed in late 2024 and early 2025, marking the project’s 75% milestone.
The first train is projected to run in early 2026, followed by the replacement of the Track 2 Viaduct near Secaucus Station. Final demolition of the existing swing bridge will occur after the new structure is fully operational.
