Amtrak, NJ Transit to Complete Portal Bridge Cutover
Final rail cutover to the Portal North Bridge in Kearny, N.J., precedes full service resuming on Nov. 16.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Transportation
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Amtrak and New Jersey Transit are completing the second and final cutover of rail operations to the Portal North Bridge, with full service set to resume on Nov. 16. Contractor crews are working around the clock at the project site in Kearny, N.J., to move operations from the last remaining track on the existing Portal Bridge to the second track on the new span.
Why it matters
The existing Portal Bridge, a two-track swing span, was a major source of delays, particularly when it malfunctioned during openings for maritime traffic. The new fixed span has no movable components, and the broader Gateway Program aims to eventually double rail capacity between Newark and New York.
The second cutover ties a 2.5-mile section of new Track 2 into existing infrastructure and installs one new turnout with two switch machines. The $1.6 billion construction contract with Skanska/Traylor Bros, approved by NJT's Board in October 2021, is set against $766.5 million in Federal Transit Administration funding.
The players
Amtrak
Amtrak is the national passenger rail corporation that operates intercity trains across the United States, including on the Northeast Corridor.
New Jersey Transit
New Jersey Transit is the state's public transportation agency, operating commuter rail, light rail, and bus services across New Jersey.
Skanska/Traylor Bros Joint Venture
Skanska/Traylor Bros is a joint venture of the international construction firm Skanska and the U.S. contractor Traylor Bros, which holds the Portal North Bridge construction contract.
The details
The second cutover moves rail operations from the last remaining track on the 116-year-old Portal Bridge, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad, onto the second track of the Portal North Bridge. The new bridge rises 50 feet over the Hackensack River and, including approaches, spans nearly 2.5 miles of the Northeast Corridor.
Timeline
November 1910: The existing Portal Bridge entered revenue service.
January 2021: A Full Funding Grant Agreement securing $766.5 million in federal funding was signed.
October 2021: NJT's Board approved a $1.6 billion contract with Skanska/Traylor Bros Joint Venture.
Nov. 12: Amtrak released a video of the cutover work.
Nov. 16: Full rail service resumes on the Portal North Bridge.
Market Landscape
The Portal North Bridge is part of the Gateway Program, the broader effort to expand the Northeast Corridor rail link under the Hudson River. Completing the cutover moves that program from construction toward the capacity expansion it was designed to deliver between Newark and New York.
Commuters and Northeast Corridor riders should expect rail operations to shift onto the new bridge as full service resumes on Nov. 16. The new fixed span eliminates the movable components that previously caused delays when the old swing bridge malfunctioned.
The takeaway
The Portal North Bridge's fixed design removes the mechanical openings that once disrupted service, so riders should look for steadier schedules once full operations resume on Nov. 16.
What happens next
Full rail service is scheduled to resume on the Portal North Bridge on Nov. 16.
Further reading
Explore more on Transportation coverage of New Jersey's rail and transit projects.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Railway Track and Structures.
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