The NJ Transit board of directors voted Dec. 11 to award a $444.4-million contract for the second segment of construction for a replacement Raritan River rail bridge to Skanska Koch Inc., a subsidiary of Skanska USA Civil Inc. 

The lift bridge carrying the North Jersey Coast Line over the Raritan River between Perth Amboy and South Amboy, N.J., is planned to replace a 116-year-old swing bridge called River Draw that was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 and is now subject to ocean surge lateral forces it was not designed to withstand, according to NJ Transit. 

Carteret, N.J.-based Skanska Koch offered the lowest of three bids, records show. The other bidders were MLJ Contracting Corp. and Tutor Perini. 

The contract’s scope covers the vertical lift portion of the two-track, 34-ft-wide bridge, including the 375-ft-long movable span and flanking spans. It also includes associated work such as signals and overhead catenary. 

The new bridge is being built adjacent to the existing River Draw. Construction of the 24 approach spans totaling about a half mile is already underway via a $247.9-million contract NJ Transit awarded in 2020 to Farmingdale, N.J.-based George Harms Construction. 

“The new Raritan River Bridge will replace a century-old structure, significantly enhancing both operational efficiency and our preparedness for extreme weather events,” said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit president and CEO, in a statement. 

The replacement bridge is designed for greater resilience and is being built with materials NJ Transit says will be able to better withstand ocean surge and saltwater. It is supported on piers 95-ft apart and 84 8-ft-dia drilled shafts up to 240-ft deep, according to Gannett Fleming, which helped design the bridge in a joint venture with Hardesty & Hanover. 

Raritan_River_bridge_construction_ENRweb.jpgConstruction of the 24 approach spans started in 2020.
Photo courtesy NJ Transit

The piers are being built outside of the existing 300-ft-wide navigation channel, so vessels will have a wider area than with the existing bridge. The lift will provide a minimum 110-ft vertical clearance. 

The North Jersey Coast Line serves about 11,400 passengers daily. The River Draw also serves Conrail freight trains. A $446-million grant from the Federal Transit Administration will help fund the project. NJ Transit plans to later award a final contract covering demolition of the existing bridge.