BAYONNE, NJ — November 5, 2026 — New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill officially marked the beginning of construction on the Newark Bay Bridge replacement project Thursday, launching what she described as the largest single infrastructure investment in the 75-year history of the New Jersey Turnpike.
The nearly $7 billion project is expected to support approximately 19,000 jobs, improve transportation safety, and provide a more reliable connection between Newark, Bayonne, and Jersey City.
Sherrill joined state and local officials, labor representatives, and New Jersey Turnpike Authority leaders in Bayonne for the groundbreaking ceremony.
The project represents a major investment in one of New Jersey’s most important transportation corridors, which serves commuters, commercial trucks, and the region’s extensive port operations.
Governor Sherrill: New Jersey Is Building Again
In a statement published on her official social media account, Governor Sherrill celebrated the beginning of the project and emphasized its economic significance.
“We broke ground on the Newark Bay Bridge replacement, marking the largest single infrastructure project in the New Jersey Turnpike’s 75-year history,” Sherrill wrote.
She highlighted the investment’s potential to create thousands of jobs and improve transportation for residents and businesses.
“No more kicking the can down the road. I’m on a mission to make New Jersey a state that builds again,” the governor declared.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Sherrill described the project as an investment in the state’s safety and economic future.
She also emphasized that the construction work will provide thousands of union jobs and create opportunities for workers and local businesses.
Replacing a 70-Year-Old Bridge
The existing Newark Bay Bridge, officially named the Vincent R. Casciano Memorial Bridge, opened in 1956.
The bridge carries the Newark Bay–Hudson County Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike, connecting Interchange 14 in Newark with Interchange 14A near Bayonne and Jersey City.
After approximately 70 years of service, the structure requires increasingly frequent repairs and maintenance.
According to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the aging bridge has reached a point where replacement is necessary to improve long-term safety, reliability, and resilience.
The Newark Bay crossing is a crucial transportation link for thousands of commuters and commercial vehicles traveling between Essex and Hudson counties.
Its importance extends beyond local traffic because the corridor also supports freight transportation connected to the Port of New York and New Jersey.
A Modern Bridge Designed for the Future
The replacement bridge will feature a cable-stayed design, similar to the modern Goethals Bridge connecting Elizabeth, New Jersey, with Staten Island.
Cable-stayed bridges use a system of steel cables connected to supporting towers to carry the weight of the roadway.
The new structure will provide improved safety features, including full shoulders and modern engineering designed to withstand decades of heavy traffic and environmental exposure.
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority expects the new bridge to provide approximately 100 years of service.
The first phase focuses on replacing the existing Newark Bay Bridge and improving the roadway and ramps between Interchanges 14 and 14A.
Nearly 19,000 Jobs Expected
One of the project’s most significant anticipated benefits is employment.
According to Governor Sherrill and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the investment is expected to support approximately 19,000 jobs.
These opportunities include union construction positions and employment associated with engineering, transportation, manufacturing, logistics, and related industries.
The governor has emphasized the importance of Project Labor Agreements to ensure that construction work meets high standards of safety and quality while supporting a skilled workforce.
The project is also expected to create economic opportunities for small businesses and minority-owned companies involved in construction and related services.
When Will the New Bridge Open?
The new Newark Bay Bridge is scheduled to open to traffic in 2031.
According to New Jersey Turnpike Authority Executive Director Kris Kolluri, construction access structures are already underway, while additional contracts for the permanent bridge are being prepared.
The existing bridge will remain open during construction to maintain traffic across Newark Bay.
Once the new structure is completed and vehicles are transferred onto it, the old bridge will be demolished.
Additional roadway improvements within the broader Newark Bay–Hudson County Extension program will continue beyond the bridge’s opening.
The project is designed to minimize long-term disruption while creating a safer and more reliable transportation connection.
How Will the Project Be Funded?
The estimated $6.8 billion investment is being advanced through the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.
According to the authority, its capital improvement program is financed through toll revenues rather than direct local, county, state, or federal tax appropriations.
The financing structure is particularly relevant as New Jersey continues debating infrastructure spending, toll costs, and the financial burden placed on motorists.
The Turnpike Authority maintains that replacing aging transportation infrastructure is necessary to avoid more expensive repairs and potential safety problems in the future.
Why the Newark Bay Bridge Matters
The Newark Bay crossing is an essential part of New Jersey’s transportation system.
It connects densely populated communities and supports access to major employment centers, industrial facilities, and shipping terminals.
For businesses moving goods between the ports, warehouses, and interstate highways, reliable transportation infrastructure is especially important.
The aging bridge has required continuing maintenance, creating concerns about future reliability and transportation disruptions.
The replacement project is intended to reduce those risks while preparing the corridor for decades of continued use.
A Major Infrastructure Investment for New Jersey
The groundbreaking marks an important milestone in New Jersey’s long-term infrastructure modernization efforts.
Governor Sherrill has made rebuilding aging roads, bridges, and public transportation systems a central theme of her administration’s infrastructure agenda.
The Newark Bay Bridge project is among the largest examples of that commitment.
For drivers, the most immediate benefit will come when the first replacement bridge opens in 2031.
For construction workers and businesses, the project is expected to generate employment and economic activity throughout the building period.
And for the state, the replacement represents a long-term investment in transportation safety and economic connectivity.
As Sherrill emphasized during the ceremony, the goal is not simply to replace an aging bridge but to strengthen the infrastructure that supports New Jersey’s future.
Sources: Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, News 12 New Jersey, Hudson County View, November 5, 2026.
By NJ RADAR Team