This award will fund the second phase of the point-no-point bridge replacement project

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) awarded Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail) $73.9 million under the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program (CFDA 20.325) on May 1, 2025, to fund Phase II of the Point-No-Point Bridge Replacement Project. The project will replace a 121-year-old freight rail swing bridge spanning the Passaic River between Newark and Kearny, New Jersey, with a modern single-leaf bascule bridge featuring remote operating capabilities. Deliverables include track work, construction of the bascule and approach spans, installation of lead balance plates and mechanical components for the movable span, and demolition of existing bridge structures. The new bridge will reduce bridge operating cycles from half a working day to 12 minutes, directly supporting the movement of approximately 7,000 intermodal containers daily across the North Jersey Terminal mainline, which represents two-thirds of regional track capacity.

This infrastructure improvement project is scheduled for completion by March 31, 2027, and will provide significant operational and safety benefits to primary freight rail users Conrail, Norfolk Southern, and CSX. The project directly advances the CRISI program's objectives to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight rail systems through modernized infrastructure that reduces travel times, improves operational productivity and capacity, and decreases maintenance requirements.

The project will replace a 121-year-old freight rail swing bridge at the end of its useful lifespan with an efficient and reliable new bridge employing a modern, 21ST century mechanism technology for a single-span bascule opening. The point-no-point bridge crosses the passaic river, connecting newark, NJ, to kearny, NJ, on the passaic and harsimus (P H) rail line. The project will construct a new bascule single-leaf bridge with remote operating mechanism capable of an open-close cycle of 12 minutes as opposed to the current one-half working day procedure. Originally constructed in 1901, the PNP bridge is the premier freight route through the north jersey terminal, currently representing two-thirds of the mainline track capacity through the region and is responsible for the supporting the movement of nearly 7,000 containers each day. Conrail, NS, CSX are primary users and beneficiaries.funding from this award will support track work, construction of the bascule span and approach spans, the delivery and installation of the lead balance plates, the delivery and installation of the mechanical items for the movable span, and the demolition of the existing bridge structures. Project benefits include:- travel time and operational savings- improved safety- increased reliability, productivity and capacity- reduced maintenance