Goethals Bridge Replacement Project

Modernising New York’s transport infrastructure.

Overview

In 2013 NYNJ Link, a consortium comprising MAM and Kiewit Development Corporation, won a 35-year concession to finance, design, build and operate a new bridge to replace the existing link between New York and New Jersey.

Over the next five years, NYNJ Link worked collaboratively with numerous government entities and other stakeholders to deliver the $US1.5 billion Goethals Bridge. The project was the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s first long-span bridge built in the region in 80 years.

Sector Infrastructure

Sub-sector Transport

Invested 2013

Ownership 90%

Upgrading a critical transport connection

Goethals Bridge serves as a critical transport connection between the states of New York and New Jersey. The original steel truss bridge opened in 1928 carrying prohibition-era cars between Staten Island and Elizabeth. The four 10-foot wide lanes on the original bridge had ample room for Model-T Fords, however, by 2013 it carried approximately 32 million vehicles annually, including heavy trucks.

The project to finance and build a replacement Goethals Bridge was the first Public Private Partnership for the Port Authority.

A task force approach to collaboration and innovation

"This is the first major, new bridge erected in New Jersey in decades and it was long overdue, as anyone who navigated the old Goethals Bridge can attest… Drivers have been nervously gripping the steering wheel of their cars just to stay in the narrow lanes designed in the 1920s for the nation's first generation of automobiles… It was built under a major private-public partnership, which resulted in a swifter project completion than had we relied solely on the public sector.”

Chris Christie, Former Governor of New Jersey¹

Computer-generated rendered picture, produced prior to construction

Connecting two states and two cities

Connecting two states and two cities, the project had to consider the current and future needs of numerous stakeholders. This required extensive consultation with local authorities and commuters, as well as significant environmental protections for seasonal spawning fish in the river below and bird life in neighbouring wetlands.

The NYNJ Link consortium created a ‘task force’ environment with the Port Authority to tackle challenges large and small across planning, engineering design, management of existing traffic flows, scheduling of works and construction. The construction of the project saw over three million union craft hours recorded².

This approach generated a number of innovations, including one of the most consequential elements in the bridge’s design – a dual-bridge solution, splitting the tower and separating the eastbound and westbound structures. This innovative design gives the structure a service life of 150 years. It also ensures that the bridge is designed to meet the evolving needs of the region, including future mass transit expansion.

Focused on current and future generations

"The Goethals Bridge is a vital artery connecting millions of travellers across the New York metropolitan area, and this new state-of-the-art crossing will ease travel for current and future generations of New Yorkers and residents from surrounding communities."

Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York³

Location United States

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$US1.5 billion	two span cabled stayed bridge
100+	stakeholders
2,000 jobs	created with a positive safety record

Recognised for innovation, collaboration and safety

The eastbound span of the new Goethals Bridge opened to traffic in June 2017, with the westbound span opened in May 2018. On completion, the project had injected over $US870 million in economic activity to the area⁴.

The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project has been recognised for its innovation, collaboration and safety record. It was chosen unanimously by judges of the Engineering News Record Awards to be New York’s ‘Project of the Year’ for 2018⁵. It was also named New York’s ‘Best Project’ in the highway/bridge category and won the ‘Excellence in Safety’ award⁵.

The project has also been recognised with a ‘Diamond Award’ from the American Council of Engineering Companies⁶, a ‘Gold Award’ from P3 Awards⁷ and two ‘Grand Awards’ from the American Concrete Institute⁸ and the Concrete Industry Board⁹. The New Jersey Alliance for Action also named the Goethals Bridge Replacement Project ‘Best Infrastructure Project’¹⁰.