Elected officials, advocates and NJ Turnpike Authority clash over aging bridge

BAYONNE, N.J. (PIX11) – An aging New Jersey bridge is at the center of a battle pitting mayors and public transportation advocates against the New Jersey Turnpike Authority.

The agency is looking to rebuild the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension, including replacing the bridge and doubling its capacity. It will cost nearly $11 billion.

Opponents to the construction argue that the repairs will cause extra traffic and spew toxins into the surrounding Jersey City and Hoboken neighborhoods, which are already suffering disproportionately high health impacts from car and truck exhaust.

The decade-long project will start in 2026. Supporters argue the repairs are needed because the outdated bridge can’t handle current traffic needs.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka denounced the project, saying in an op-ed on NJ.com , “The state did not consider coordinating with NJ Transit to study and fund long-needed investments in public transportation, which, unlike the highway expansion, would reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of life for not only Newark residents but all New Jerseyans.”

Opponents also argued that the bridge problem could be fixed with repairs, citing New Jersey Department of Transportation documents that state it can last for another 60 years. It would only cost $260 million in upkeep, and the rest of the money planned for the project could go to mass transit, opponents said.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018 . She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here .

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