The New Jersey Turnpike Authority said the U.S. Coast Guard issued a permit for the $6 billion Newark Bay Bridge project, part of the $10.7 billion turnpike widening, during a virtual press briefing this morning.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“Today, the Coast Guard has issued a finding of no significant impact to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s proposed replacement of the Newark Bay Bridge,” U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Program Manager Greg Hitchen stated.
“The Coast Guard has subsequently issued a permit for the replacement of the Newark Bay Bridge.”
He noted they were mindful of issues raised during the public comment period.
Supervising Engineer, also the NJTA Program Manager, Lisa Navarro said the Newark Bay bridge is falling apart, which justifies the overall multi-stage project expense.
“Every day, the need is greater and more urgent,. Project 1 is the most urgent due to the severe deterioration,” she stated, acknowledging criticism of a potential highway widening.
“I cannot emphasize enough that the Turnpike extension is at the end of its life and must be replaced. We’re expanding capacity … to four lanes in each direction (it is currently two in each direction).”
Navarro explained that multi-lane mergers are causing crashes, arguing this project will decrease traffic significantly in northern Bayonne, Greenville in Jersey City, and the East Ward section of Newark.
“We propose to add only one lane in each direction because over a third of the traffic exists at 14 A (into Bayonne),” Navarro said.
She stated that there would be no extra lane after the 14C exit between the Liberty Science Center and the Holland Tunnel.
Navarro contended that the project will help the economy in the long run and reiterated that this is not a taxpayer-funded endeavor.
“Money from this program cannot be redirected to public transit,” she added.
Nonetheless, the NJTA is giving $500 million to the state for public transit annually for 10 years. Navarro also said the NJTA is also giving $89 million a year to the Gateway Tunnel project.
She explained that 29 decrepit bridges make up the Turnpike Extension and they all must be replaced eventually, which can be done without displacing residents.
Environmental Planning Consultant Graham Trelstad said they have worked with many state and federal agencies on transportation, the environment, and historic preservation concerns, working on mandates for clean air, water, and protecting animals over four years.
He also said they will build sound barriers to address noise and work to maintain water quality.
“The project will not have significant impacts on the community. There will be no impact resulting from res displacement, encroachments on parks, community facilities, places of worship,” Trelstad declared, indicating it would not increase traffic.
Ongoing feedback about the project phases will be solicited from the community closest to the construction sites.
Furthermore, Navarro said the NJTA will launch an Adaptive Management Plan, which incorporates feedback already received from a range of groups and stakeholders.
“We will also pro-actively monitor noise, air, and vibrations,” she said.
Navarro continued that they would collaborate with the communities on where they should monitor and that monitoring results will be posted online.
She explained they have a phased strategy overall: There will be two bridges to replace the existing bridge. Once the first one is built, the old one will be demolished, and the new one will be built.
Construction is starting next year, with a completion date for that phase expected in 2037, with the overall project completed in 2040.
“This is a safety project. We really have to replace this bridge … We call this end-of-life care,” Navarro asserted, pointing out that they will stop using the existing bridge in 2031.
NJTA spokesman Tom Feeney said safety is such a high priority in building the new bridges no new governor could realistically halt the project (Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has been adamantly opposed).
Consultant Jim Hereen said the adoptive management plan is to monitor everything with the community during construction to make sure their concerns are heard.
To that end, extra measures could be put into place to address concerns, Hereen said. For example, if lot of dust is kicked up, contractors would be required to assuage the situation to the best of their abilities.
Tara Dowdell, a public relations consultant to the NJTA to the project, explained they met with the “I Love Greenville” group (state Senator Angela McKnight is the vice chair of the group) in Jersey City to work on air quality monitoring.
Navarro added that they worked hard to review the potential environmental impact.
“People can speculate and say things, but we have the data, and we have the numbers: We spent a lot of time on this.”
Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis came out in favor of the update for the plan on Wednesday afternoon.
“Today is a great day for the City of Bayonne. The Coast Guard has approved the construction of a new Turnpike crossing with two spans over Newark Bay, one eastbound and one westbound,” he said in a statement.
“I am very happy about the Coast Guard’s approval. This project is vitally important for securing Bayonne’s economic future and quality of life.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a comment from Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis.
