New Jersey Turnpike Bridge Plan Faces Fresh Calls for Review After State Scales Back Expansion
Even after state officials made concessions to calm public concern, opposition to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s multi-billion-dollar Newark Bay Bridge replacement proposal is increasing. Local leaders, advocacy groups, and freshly elected lawmakers are calling Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill to delay the project and examine traffic, pollution, and long-term costs.
A $6.2 billion plan to replace the outdated Newark Bay Bridge between Bayonne and Jersey City is under discussion. The four-lane bridge is over 70 years old. The Turnpike Authority would replace it with two bridges, tripling capacity. State officials say the project is important for safety and modernity, but detractors say it could aggravate local congestion and environmental conditions.
Governor Phil Murphy decided to withdraw the most controversial part of the Turnpike expansion on Friday. The state will no longer widen the Turnpike Extension between Bayonne Exit 14A and Jersey City Exit 14C. Some opponents praised the announcement, but others feel it’s not enough.
The Turnpike Trap Coalition and Empower NJ contend that the bridge renovation could increase Jersey City traffic even without the extension expansion. They say the amended plan leaves unanswered questions about where vehicles coming off the extended bridge will go, especially if local roads and ramps are not equipped to accommodate the increased flow.
Exit 14A in Bayonne, which connects port facilities and local roadways, is a big concern. The Turnpike Authority will develop ramps to connect the bridge to local container terminals. Officials think this will improve safety and efficiency by separating heavy truck traffic from local cars. Critics fear the new ramps may not improve congestion but just relocate it.
Two new Hudson County state assembly members openly pushed Governor-elect Sherrill to halt the project. They say the state should reconsider boosting capacity since studies and experience demonstrate that new highway lanes increase induced demand, or automobile traffic. They believed doubling the bridge would increase traffic, trucks, and pollution in already overcrowded areas.
Environmental and community advocates argue the state’s declaration was vague. What the Turnpike Authority plans to build east of the bridge and if future additions are possible are unclear. Some worry that after the wider bridge is built, demand will increase to enlarge surrounding parts to alleviate bottlenecks caused by the added lanes.
The Turnpike Authority said Project 1, the bridge reconstruction, is proceeding as planned. Agency officials expect the first new bridge to open in 2031 after work begins in 2026. After then, the bridge would be destroyed and replaced with a second span, taking years.
Later developments, such as elevated Turnpike Extension sections near the Holland Tunnel, will not add lanes, officials said. They say the buildings will be replaced for safety purposes and retain two lanes each way.
Opponents remain doubtful. They claim that spending billions on highway infrastructure contradicts the state’s climate goals and long-term transportation demands. Many want options that rebuild infrastructure, improve mass transit, and reduce automobile and truck use.
As Governor-elect Sherrill prepares to take office, the Newark Bay Bridge project will test how New Jersey will balance infrastructure investment with environmental, affordability, and neighborhood impacts. Whether the project proceeds or is stopped for study might affect regional transportation strategy for decades.
Sources
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Office of the Governor of New Jersey
New Jersey Department of Transportation
