$39M Bridge Project Approved

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved a five-year, $39.1 million project to rehabilitate and repaint the Outerbridge Crossing.

The project, which will begin in May and be completed by mid-2009, is a critical state-of-good repair project that will help sustain the overall condition of the Outerbridge Crossing, which links New Jersey and Staten Island. In addition to repainting the Outerbridge Crossing's New York and New Jersey viaducts, the project also will remove lead-based paint, and rehabilitate structural steel on several areas of the bridge.

The Port Authority has regularly repainted the steel elements of the three Staten Island bridges since their construction 75 years ago. In 1995, a 20-year program utilizing environmentally approved techniques and advanced bridge painting technology was implemented.

A similar project to repaint the main span of the Outerbridge Crossing was completed in 1999. The bridge's roadway deck was rehabilitated with work completed in 2002. The current project will complete the final step in this major rehabilitation of the Outerbridge Crossing.

Experts to Review Bridge Options

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey retained the services of outside experts to conduct a comprehensive environmental review of options for the 75-year-old Goethals Bridge, and to recommend a preferred alternative to upgrade and modernize it.

The Board of Commissioners selected the joint venture of Louis Berger Group/Parsons Brinckerhoff of East Orange, N.J. and Manhattan to conduct the environmental review. The effort will be undertaken in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard as the lead federal agency and will include the preparation of a full Environmental Impact Statement in accordance with the federal National Environmental Policy Act. The environmental review process will take approximately three years.

The team will immediately begin to establish a schedule that will include opportunities for public input. Throughout the process, an assessment of alternatives will be undertaken with ongoing public exchanges. The preferred alternative selected at the conclusion of the process will ultimately help improve customer service, modernize the bridge, and enhance safety and reliability.

Newark Runway to be Rehabilitated

Approximately 10,000 feet of pavement on Runway 4R-22L at Newark Liberty International Airport will be rehabilitated under a contract awarded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The project includes the replacement of runway lighting.

The contract was awarded to the Crisdel Group of South Plainfield, N.J.