Port Authority Plans Major Overhaul For NY-NJ Bridges

With that vote, the Port Authority Board of Commissioners gave the green light to move forward with what they describe as an historic bridge construction program that will improve three bridges that connect New Jersey and New York — the Goethals, Bayonne and Outerbridge Crossing.

“These projects will create employment, new jobs in and of themselves,” said PANYNJ chairman David Samson. “But more importantly, they allow the Port Authority, our ports in particular, to remain competitive and increase the efficiency of moving goods across the rivers.”

Among the two large-scale projects approved is a plan to replace the Goethals Bridge. It’s the first time in more than 80 years the bi-state agency will build a new span which will feature wider travel lanes to help ease congestion. It’s being paid for through a public private partnership.

“By minimizing public investment and minimizing the amount of public Port Authority debt capacity that’s used, [it] maximizes the amount that we have to spend on other transactions,” explained Patrick Foye, PANYNJ Executive Director.

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