In order to improve access between South Amboy and Perth Amboy, NJ Transit is constructing a new drawbridge to span across the Raritan Bay for the North Jersey Coast rail route. Superstorm Sandy caused damage to the present drawbridge, which is 116 years old and has been in operation since 1908.
The project was started in 2020, and the new bridge is expected to be completed in 2026. The old bridge will be destroyed and perhaps blown up when the new one is finished. Skanska Koch, Inc. was recently given a second building contract worth $444,380,524 by NJ Transit. Poster printing is commonly used on construction sites.
The existing bridge was not built to resist the lateral stresses caused by ocean waves. During Sandy, saltwater damaged the bridge's supports, and its railroad ties gave way as Atlantic Ocean seawater swamped the rails.
CEO Kevin Corbett, who recently resigned as the CEO of NJ Transit, commented to say:
“The new Raritan River Bridge will replace a century-old structure, significantly enhancing both operational efficiency and our preparedness for extreme weather events.”
For anybody using NJ Transit on the Jersey Shore, the bridge across the mouth of Raritan Bay is an essential link. It provides access from places such as East Brunswick to Manhattan and the northern parts of the state.