Skanska has been awarded a $444 million contract to replace the Raritan River Bridge in Middlesex County, New Jersey, the Sweden-based construction giant announced Tuesday. The new bridge aims to improve resilience against extreme weather conditions and reduce the likelihood of vessel collisions, a key concern in bridge safety.

A Critical Transportation Link

The Raritan River Bridge serves as an essential link between the cities of Perth Amboy and South Amboy, carrying both passenger and freight rail traffic. The existing structure suffered significant damage during Superstorm Sandy in 2012, emphasizing the need for a modernized replacement.

“The Raritan Bridge serves as a critical passageway for over 10,000 daily commuters and 2 million tons of freight annually,” said Bill Matre, senior vice president and general manager for Skanska Koch, the company’s New Jersey regional division.

A Legacy of Infrastructure Excellence

Skanska Koch, a division of Skanska USA, has a notable history of handling large-scale bridge projects. The firm played a major role in the rehabilitation of the Brooklyn Bridge, securing a $508 million contract for the project from 2010 to 2014. That work involved removing hazardous lead-based paint, repainting the structure, and replacing approximately 600 bridge bearings.

The Raritan River Bridge replacement project, which is set to begin construction this month, is expected to be completed by 2029.

Scope of the New Bridge Project

The bid-build contract entails the demolition of the existing swing bridge superstructure and the construction of:

• New vertical lift bridge towers
• A lift span
• Two flanking systems
• Advanced communication systems

Additional elements of the project include overhead catenary work for rail electrification, earthwork on the adjacent land, and upgrades to the existing rail system to ensure continued serviceability.

Resilience and Safety Enhancements

In designing the replacement structure, Skanska emphasized sustainability, safety, and resilience. The new bridge will offer increased vertical clearance above the 100-year flood elevation level, reducing the risk of flood-related damage. It will also be positioned farther inland from the Atlantic Ocean to lower exposure to extreme weather events, a lesson learned from past storm impacts.

Skanska also highlighted improvements in navigation safety. The company stated that “enhanced navigation channel geometry” will mitigate vessel collision risks while reducing potential repair costs through better pier protection systems.

Lessons from Recent Bridge Disasters

The timing of this project coincides with heightened national concern over bridge safety following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, which occurred just over a year ago. The collapse was triggered by a vessel impact, exposing vulnerabilities in the bridge’s design and safety measures. The National Transportation Safety Board has since stressed the need for risk assessments on bridges nationwide, a precaution that Skanska has taken into consideration for the Raritan River Bridge project.

With the replacement of the Raritan River Bridge, New Jersey will gain a more robust transportation link designed to endure environmental threats and evolving safety requirements for decades to come.

Originally reported by Zachary Phillips in Construction Dive.