NJ Transit and Amtrak are advancing work to replace the 116-year-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in New Jersey with a new fixed-span structure known as the Portal North Bridge.

The replacement bridge has been designed to sit higher above the river, removing the need to open and close for passing maritime traffic.

This is the first major bridge cutover project ever on the Northeast Corridor

© Amtrak

In February 2026, Amtrak began the process of transferring rail operations from the existing bridge to the new structure. This procedure, referred to as a ‘cutover,’ involves shifting one of the two tracks currently in use onto the new alignment. The change marks a significant stage in the project and is intended to support long-term reliability and capacity improvements along the Northeast Corridor.

The cutover requires the installation of new track infrastructure, completion of overhead catenary systems that supply electric power to trains, and integration and testing of signalling equipment. Engineering and construction teams have been working continuously to connect the new bridge safely with the existing railway network while maintaining rail services.

The Portal North Bridge project is one of several major infrastructure projects currently ongoing throughout the NEC

© Amtrak

This is the first time a bridge of this scale on the Northeast Corridor has undergone such a transition while remaining in active service. Careful planning has been required to coordinate rail operations, construction schedules and safety protocols.

The Portal North Bridge forms part of a broader programme of infrastructure investment along the corridor. Funding and oversight involve several public bodies, including the United States Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration and the Federal Transit Administration.

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