New Jersey Breaks Ground on Newark Bay Bridge

Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Turnpike Commission officials marked the start of a $6.8 billion replacement project in Bayonne.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Construction

Concrete bridge trestle piers rising from grey tidal water along an industrial shoreline, with a partially built steel deck extending over the bay under overcast sky. — Work has begun on the $6.8 billion replacement for the 70-year-old Newark Bay Bridge, with Gov. Mikie Sherrill and Turnpike Commission officials marking the start in Bayonne. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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New Jersey officials broke ground on the replacement Newark Bay Bridge in Bayonne, with Gov. Mikie Sherrill joining laborers and members of the New Jersey Turnpike Commission. The two trestles supporting the new structure are already under construction.

Why it matters

The existing bridge, 70 years old, is functionally obsolete and requires constant repairs, making replacement a long-term infrastructure priority for the state. The project's $6.8 billion price tag and multi-year timeline will shape commuter and freight routes across the region.

The $6.8 billion project is scheduled to take approximately five years, with the new span slated to open in 2031. The main-bridge contract is not expected to be awarded until March 2027, after the trestles are completed.

The players

Mikie Sherrill

Mikie Sherrill is the Governor of New Jersey, leading the state's executive branch and overseeing major infrastructure initiatives.

New Jersey Turnpike Commission

The New Jersey Turnpike Commission operates and manages the state's turnpike system and oversees major highway and bridge projects in the region.

The details

The replacement will use a cable-stayed design similar to the Goethals Bridge, and work on the two supporting trestles is already underway. Construction of the bridge itself will follow completion of the trestles, which are expected to finish in November or December.

November 2026: Trestle construction expected to be completed.
December 2026: Trestle construction expected to be completed.
March 2027: Contract for the bridge expected to be awarded.
2031: New bridge scheduled to open.

Market Landscape

The Newark Bay replacement reuses the cable-stayed approach of the Goethals Bridge, extending a design already proven in the New York–New Jersey corridor. It reflects a regional pattern of replacing aging crossings with new spans rather than repairing legacy structures indefinitely.

Commuters and freight carriers crossing Newark Bay will face construction-related traffic changes over the coming years before the new span opens in 2031. The project's cost is funded through the state's toll-supported infrastructure, which may influence future turnpike fees.

The takeaway

Aging infrastructure like the Newark Bay Bridge demands long planning horizons, and the 2031 opening date signals how multi-year replacement projects unfold in practice. Readers tracking regional commutes should watch the March 2027 contract award for firmer timing.

What happens next

The trestle work is expected to finish in November or December 2026, the bridge construction contract is expected to be awarded in March 2027, and the new bridge is scheduled to open in 2031.