Major Construction Begins At Port Newark, Elizabeth Terminal

NEWARK, NJ — The busiest port complex on the East Coast is getting a major upgrade, officials say.

On Wednesday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that major construction work has begun on the $220 million Port Street Corridor Improvement project, which will rebuild the northern roadway access point into Port Newark and the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal.

Work is scheduled to be completed in 2028.

The interchange serves as a crucial link to the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 78, and a roadway section for both U.S. routes 1 and 9. The current configuration includes a series of hairpin turns with reduced sightlines, which are often challenging for truck drivers to navigate safely. More than 700 crashes were reported on the roadway between 2005 and 2022, a number that Port Authority officials are hoping to reduce by 37 percent.

It’s a bottleneck that has the potential to throw a big monkey wrench into a trucker’s already tight schedule, officials said. The ramp from Port Street to Corbin Street alone serves about 3,600 vehicles during a typical peak hour – nearly 40 percent of which is truck traffic.

Port Authority officials said the redesign will include wider turning capabilities, which will make it easier and safer for truckers to get in and out of the port. The enhancements will save an estimated 700,000 hours of travel time for vehicles accessing the complex in the first full year following project completion.

Not impressed yet? Here’s something to consider: about a third of all the shipping containers on the east coast of North America – carrying more than $275 billion in cargo – made their way through the waters near Port Newark and the Elizabeth Port Authority Marine Terminal last year.

Things are only expected to get bigger at the port, with cargo volume predicted to double – or even triple – by 2050.

• See Related: Port Authority Proposes $1 Billion Budget Hike In NJ, NY

In addition to reinforcing a supply chain that showcased its fragility during the coronavirus pandemic, the project will also reduce carbon emissions at the port by nearly 750 tons per year, officials added.

Officials said the port will remain fully operational through every stage of construction. Beginning in summer 2024, trucks wishing to access Corbin Street from eastbound Port Street will be routed to a detour via Marlin and Kellogg streets. Once the detour is in place, work will begin to demolish and rebuild the Corbin Street ramp.

Work planned as part of the project includes:

• Reconstruction of the ramp from Port Street to Corbin Street, featuring a wider turning radius and the restoration of a second travel lane
• Relocation and widening of Kellogg and Marlin streets to allow for two inbound lanes from Port Street and one outbound lane from Corbin Street with dedicated left turn lanes
• Reconstruction of Outer Port Street with a wider turning radius to Port Street
• Installation of a new traffic signal at the intersection of Port and Marlin streets, and improvement of existing traffic signals at the intersections of Corbin and Kellogg streets, and of Port Street and Doremus Avenue
• Raising the main interchange area to a higher elevation to alleviate flooding
• Construction of a new storm drainage system connecting the improved roadways to a new storm water discharge point in the Port Newark Channel
• Realignment of the grade-level railroad tracks to a safer, more visible pathway as they intersect with the street
• Construction/addition of street lighting along Kellogg and Marlin streets

The project received a $44 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) program in July 2021. Read More: $44M Upgrade For Busy Roadway Between Port Newark, Elizabeth

According to the Port Authority, the project is expected to generate 260 additional direct jobs during construction with a priority placed on working with local, minority, and women contractors. The work is also expected to generate $25 million in direct wages and $171 million in regional economic activity.

A roster of high-profile elected officials and transportation experts offered a round of applause for Wednesday’s announcement. They included:

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy – “The start of construction on the Port Street Corridor Improvement project marks yet another milestone toward the ongoing enhancement of efficiency and safety at this critical transportation and logistics hub. These improvements will further boost the performance and productivity of Port Newark, which remains integral to economic vitality and opportunity not just across the region, but in adjacent communities. Indeed, the project will entail extensive local engagement and hiring, including among women and minority residents in Newark and Elizabeth, two of our state’s most populous cities.”

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker – “As the busiest port complex on the East Coast, Port Newark drives economic growth in our region, moving goods and creating thousands of good-paying jobs. I’m proud to have secured this grant, working with Port Authority leaders, so we can fund significant roadway upgrades to make transportation safer and more efficient for the trucks and vehicles visiting the port.”

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez – “I am proud to have secured the $44 million in federal funding for this project that will improve the functionality and capacity of the Port Street corridor in Newark – further facilitating the transit of goods, creating job opportunities, and increasing our country’s competitiveness. The Port Street Corridor Improvement project will modernize the ramps and roads of the largest port on the East Coast, ensuring safe and efficient travel for the hundreds and thousands of vehicles that use the port each day. This project will not only alleviate traffic and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also improve air quality for surrounding communities and enhance the efficiency of the port’s operations.”

U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg – “The Biden Administration’s investment in Port Newark will strengthen the busiest container port on the East Coast. This investment will make the port’s roadway network safer, more efficient, improve air quality and congestion, and reduce over 700,000 hours of travel time for truckers in its first year.”

Admiral Ann Phillips, Maritime Administration (MARAD) administrator – “This project is an excellent representation of what can be achieved when ports have the vision and the opportunity to build capacity to meet our nation’s freight transportation needs — in that this project will address aging infrastructure, provide environmental benefits, and it will ultimately enhance the connection of both large and small American communities to the global economy.”

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti – “The New Jersey Department of Transportation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into projects in Hudson and Essex counties to ensure the roads and bridges connecting the port, Newark Liberty International Airport, intermodal rail yards and interstate highways can handle the increased freight volume. The Port Authority’s Port Street project will provide a seamless movement of freight into and out of New Jersey’s port complexes, improving air quality and reducing transportation times, leading to economic benefits across the region.”

Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole – “Over the past few years, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of keeping every link in our supply chain robust and ready. This project does exactly that, modernizing access points at this critical gateway so we can make sure everything from food and clothes to cars and electronics is arriving on time for the millions of consumers in the region, while also injecting money into the local economy by prioritizing the hiring of local contractors and workers.”

Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton – “This project will mean a safer, faster trip for trucks and other vehicles serving our seaport that require access to the port complex every day. That will have ripple effects across the regional and national supply chain, helping the Port of New York and New Jersey stay ahead of the curve as cargo volumes continue to grow in the years ahead.”

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