Controversial NJ Turnpike Expansion Moves Forward (See Pros, Cons)

NEW JERSEY — A controversial project that will expand the New Jersey Turnpike’s footprint in North Jersey took another big step forward this week.

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is planning to spend $10.7 billion to rebuild an 8.1-mile stretch of the I-78 Turnpike extension, doubling the number of lanes across the Newark Bay through Bayonne and Jersey City to the Holland Tunnel. The project will also reconstruct and widen the Newark Bay Bridge.

It’s a plan that has seen support from some pundits – and vocal criticism from others.

The Turnpike Authority says the project would improve safety and ease traffic on the congested highway, in addition to boosting the growth of the nearby port system – one of the busiest in the nation. Officials estimate that the construction effort will create more than 25,000 jobs. No city, county, state or federal tax dollars will be used to fund the project, which will be paid for with toll revenue. >>Read their full description of the project here.

Critics of the plan argue that it is a financial “boondoggle,” which will increase pollution in several overburdened communities – many of which are working-class communities of color. Advocates also claim the multi-billion-dollar plan is a bad investment at a time when public transportation should be the main priority. >>See some arguments against the plan here.

A Fairleigh Dickinson University poll (sponsored by the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey) conducted in October 2024 found that 58 percent of voters in the state are in favor the project.

FIRST PHASE UPDATE

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) unanimously approved five items that will advance the first phase of the project at their board meeting on Tuesday.

Here’s what is taking place, according to the NJTA:

“The reconstruction between Interchange 14 in Newark and Interchange 14A in Bayonne and Jersey City is the first project … It is the highest priority project due to the condition of the nearly 70-year-old structures. Replacing them is a necessity. The project area is 41 miles consisting of 16 bridges and nine ramps, including the Vincent Robert Casciano Bridge (known as the Newark Bay Bridge). The first project will also replace the existing Newark Bay Bridge with new twin cable-stayed bridges. Construction begins in 2026 and will last eight to 10 years.”

Activists continued their ongoing campaign to halt the project at Tuesday’s meeting, with several speakers bashing the plan – including Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.

“I oppose the Turnpike widening project because it pours billions into a failed approach that only brings more traffic and pollution to already overburdened communities,” Baraka said.

“The only proven way to reduce traffic is to get cars off the road by investing in a reliable, clean and comprehensive public transportation system,” he argued.

Two other North Jersey mayors from the area said they are opposed to the plan: Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla.

Fulop said the project is “misguided and wasteful,” alleging that it won’t solve traffic issues at all.

“Instead of reducing congestion, adding lanes will only invite more traffic, exacerbating pollution and endangering the health and safety of our residents,” Fulop said.

Bhalla agreed that the project is a “step in the wrong direction,” and pointed out that another major traffic-fighting measure – congestion pricing in New York City – is still being fully assessed.

“Investing billions in a Turnpike expansion instead of more sustainable transportation infrastructure is a step in the wrong direction,” Bhalla urged, calling on Gov. Phil Murphy and the NJTA to halt the project until more studies can be done.

• See Related: Congestion Pricing Raises Nearly $52M In February, Data Shows

THE ‘NECESSITY’ OF BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

According to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the project is a “necessity” on a highway that acts as an official state of New Jersey evacuation route – not to mention one of the busiest commuter roads in the region.

Opened to traffic in 1956, the Newark Bay-Hudson County extension runs from Interchange 14 in Newark to the Jersey Avenue intersection in Jersey City. Nearly 80 percent of the roadway is carried on bridge structures.

Here’s why that’s a problem – and why expanding the highway is the solution, officials claim:

“Those 29 structures are in poor condition and require regular, disruptive and costly maintenance just to remain in service. Traffic growth and port-related heavy truck activity cause regular congestion. The Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program will modernize the extension, replacing the 29 bridge structures and adding capacity to ensure safety, reduce congestion, and support the growth in the surrounding communities.”

These bridges can’t be rehabbed due to “significant issues below the surface,” and they can’t handle the weight of the trucks that are headed to Port Newark and Elizabeth, the agency notes. See Related: Major Construction Begins At Port Newark, Elizabeth Terminal

The program consists of four independent projects. The first project – the agency’s “top priority” – will rebuild the extension between Interchange 14 in Newark and Interchange 14A in Bayonne and Jersey City. It will also replace 16 bridges, including the Vincent Robert Casciano Bridge (Newark Bay Bridge), which will be supplanted by two new bridges with four lanes in each direction.

Work is expected to begin in 2026 and will last from eight to 10 years, officials say.

Most of the drivers who use the highway are not headed to New York City via the Holland Tunnel, the Turnpike Authority notes. Data shows that nearly 80 percent of the eastbound Extension traffic is bound for Jersey City (56%), Bayonne (17%) and other parts of Hudson County (6%).

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‘CLIMATE DENIALISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE’

According to advocates and several elected officials, there are plenty of reasons to hit the brakes on the plan. Among them is the basic assumption that adding more lanes will cut down on traffic jams – which isn’t true, they claim.

“The Turnpike Authority’s own analysis would increase traffic volumes compared to a no-build alternative,” Corey Hannigan of Tri-State Transportation Campaign previously said.

“This is a textbook case of climate denialism and environmental injustice,” Hannigan insisted.

Matt Smith of Food & Water Watch said that transportation is the “single-largest source of climate pollution in New Jersey” at 34 million metric tons annually.

“These emissions mostly come from cars and trucks whose tailpipes also produce ground-level ozone, a leading cause of the exceedingly high asthma rates in environmental justice communities in Newark and Hudson County,” Smith said.

• See Related: Power Plant In Newark Ignites Another Protest From Outraged Residents

According to Debra Kagan, executive director of New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, the project is an “irresponsible investment in the same old approaches that have created the problems we face now.”

“We need to change our transportation funding priorities from outdated turnpike expansions to building reliable transit and infrastructure for safe biking and walking if we are to ever meet our climate and safety goals in New Jersey,” Kagan argued.

• See Related: NJ To Require All-Electric Cars, 100% Clean Energy By 2035

Other advocates have slammed a draft environmental impact statement released by the Turnpike Authority, which found that the project “will not disproportionately impact overburdened communities or create adverse environmental and public health impacts.”

The Turnpike Trap coalition and EmpowerNJ, which spearheaded a rally in Hudson County last July, has released a list of several other concerns involving the proposal. They include:

• “A 2020 report commissioned by NJTA and published by Jacobs Engineering found rehabilitating the bridge would cost around $260 million, 1/30th of the cost of replacing the bridge.”
• “There have been no studies for transit alternatives or freight rail alternatives.”
• “More than 40 environmental and safe streets organizations oppose the project.”
• “More than 60 properties must be acquired by public domain, but the NJ Turnpike Authority has yet to disclose the list.”
• “Public outreach has been insufficient, and most residents remain unaware of the project.”
• “Hudson County is currently undertaking a Vision Zero Action Plan and has a goal of eliminating traffic deaths; the NJ Turnpike is among the deadliest roadways in the state with 15,000 crashes per year and 17 fatal crashes in 2023. Widening it would only make these statistics worse.”

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