Amtrak will begin major work in the coming months to rehabilitate the nearly century-old Dock Bridge in New Jersey after awarding key construction contracts.
The project will seek to improve safety and reliability for more than 200,000 daily Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, and PATH customers traveling on over 700 trains through one of the busiest sections of the Northeast Corridor (NEC), according to Amtrak.
About Dock Bridge
Opened in 1935, Dock Bridge is a six-track, triple-span moveable lift bridge crossing the Passaic River between Newark and Harrison, N.J. Four tracks are typically used by Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT trains, while the remaining two are used by PATH.
Due to its age and deteriorating condition, the bridge has experienced reliability issues, including delays following bridge openings when tracks, signals and other critical rail systems fail to align properly, as well as frequent service disruptions caused by failures of sensors and other components associated with the movable bridge systems.
In late 2024, the U.S. Coast Guard issued a permit for Dock Bridge that authorized conversion from a movable bridge to a fixed bridge.
This project includes critical safety and reliability elements that will strengthen and reinforce the bridge's steel components, while also replacing major rail infrastructure, including elements of the overhead catenary system, track and signal systems.
"Dock Bridge is one of the most heavily used rail bridges in the United States and a critical link connecting New Jersey, New York, and the entire Northeast Corridor," said Amtrak President Roger Harris
"This is another investment in the improvement of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to enhance reliability, improve long-term performance and help ensure the safe and efficient movement of trains through one of the busiest sections of the rail network that sees more than 90,000 New Jersey customers using this critical infrastructure every day," said NJ TRANSIT President and CEO Kris Kolluri.
Of the project's impact on commuters, NJ Senator Cory Booker said, "For the hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans who rely on the Northeast Corridor every day, this project is a major win. Rehabilitating this aging bridge will finally eliminate a source of chronic delays, strengthen safety and reliability across the system, and keep our regional economy moving. Most importantly, it will give commuters something priceless — time back in their day."
Contract Details
This project is being delivered through a Design-Bid-Build contract and major work will begin by the end 2026.
Skanska was awarded the DBB contract and will perform the bridge rehabilitation work.
The approximately $242 million project is primarily funded by a $188 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration. The remaining portion will be funded by NJ TRANSIT, PATH, and Amtrak.
Big Picture
Amtrak and their partners are advancing several major infrastructure projects in the New York/New Jersey area, including New York Penn Station Transformation, East River Tunnel Rehabilitation, Portal North Bridge (led by NJ TRANSIT), new tracks, signals and overhead power systems.
These projects are essential to Amtrak's new era of rail, featuring modern trains, stations, tunnels, bridges and other critical, long overdue infrastructure upgrades, said Amtrak.
