KEARNY, N.J. – This morning, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) was joined by NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri and Amtrak Acting Senior Vice President of Capital Delivery Jim Short for a tour and status update on the progress on the new Portal North Bridge, which spans the Hackensack River between Kearny and Secaucus. The ongoing project is set to replace the current 114-year-old swing bridge, which opens for maritime traffic and is a frequent source of delays and frustration for the 200,000 NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak customers that cross the Hackensack River each day.

“Hundreds of thousands of people rely on NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak every single day. It’s imperative we take steps to bolster their operations at every turn so that our public transit infrastructure continues to serve our region’s economy and passengers along the Northeast Corridor. I’m proud to have helped secure significant federal funding for this $2.2 billion project, including $495 million from Amtrak and roughly 50 percent of the remaining $1.73 billion from key federal transit programs I’ve long championed. I was pleased to see the project’s progress and hear it is on track to open on budget and ahead of schedule in 2026,” said Senator Booker.

“Senator Booker has been a tireless advocate for infrastructure that delivers real results, and his support has been instrumental in bringing the Portal North Bridge project to this point,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “His visit today comes as we mark major progress, with structural work complete and the first track set to open in 2026.”

“Portal North Bridge continues to be a model for all major infrastructure projects across America, and Senator Booker’s championing of the project is a major factor in driving the successful construction of this project,” said Amtrak Acting Senior Vice President of Capital Delivery Jim Short. “Between the great progress taking place on the project and the strong collaboration with our partners at NJ TRANSIT, and the advocacy of the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration, and so many more, this is a project that will make train travel in New Jersey better than it has ever been.”

The Portal North Bridge is a new, modern two-track, high-level, fixed-span bridge that will improve service and capacity along this section of the Northeast Corridor. The new Portal North Bridge rises 50 feet over the Hackensack River, nearly doubling the height clearance and will allow marine traffic to pass underneath without interrupting rail traffic.

The Portal North Bridge project remains on time and on budget, with both tracks set to open in 2026.