Victory Bridge Replacement

Rank #20
Cost: $110 million

With the first twin spans for the new Victory Bridge set to open during the summer, construction has started on the second span for this New Jersey bridge that connects Perth Amboy and Sayreville.

Traffic will shift from the original 1927 bridge, which will be demolished, to the first new span. The second span will be construction where the demolished bridge stood. The original bridge is a low-level concrete and steel swing bridge that provides only 28 ft. of vertical clearance, requiring that it be opened at least 1,100 times a year which slows down vehicular and river traffic.

The new Victory Bridge will be 3,971 ft. in length and will provide two 12-ft. travel lanes, 10-ft. outer and 3-ft. inner shoulders in each direction, along with other improvements such as a center median barrier, highway lighting and a 6-ft. wide separated sidewalk on the south side of Route 35.

The new structure features a 440-ft. main span designated to accommodate a minimum vertical clearance of 110 ft. above mean water elevation for commercial shipping traffic that uses the Raritan River. Two secondary spans are 330 ft. each in length. Approach spans are being erected span-by-span while the main span uses the balanced cantilever construction method. Erection of the main span and approach spans is occurring simultaneously so the job can be finished quickly.

The New bridge is the first precast concrete segmental bridge owned by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Precast concrete was chosen because of its speed of erection and low life-cycle costs.

Like the original bridge, the new bridge will be dedicated to New Jersey residents who served in World War I. Light poles spaced at 150 ft. are supported on concrete pilasters that include bronze plaques commemorating various branches of the armed services in World War I. The plaques form a linear library along the sidewalk so pedestrians can view, learn and honor the veterans. Four memorial obelisks will be located at the bridge abutments, two incorporating the original bronze plaque from the original structure and two new ones that rededicate the new bridge.

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