Commuters Face Delays In Final Phase of Project

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, October 14, 2026

NJ Transit and Amtrak have reduced train service and rerouted many trips as they enter the final phase of replacing the 116-year-old Portal Bridge on the Northeast Corridor to improve reliability. These disruptions, expected to last five weeks, aim to eliminate a major bottleneck affecting 200,000 daily riders by providing a modern two-track span designed to reduce delays and mechanical failures.

Commuters crossing the Portal Bridge in New Jersey face significant disruptions as a long-planned infrastructure project enters its final phase. The 116-year-old swing bridge, a critical bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor—the busiest passenger rail line in the United States—is being replaced with a new, taller two-track span designed to improve reliability and reduce delays.

Since the start of the Labor Day weekend, NJ Transit and Amtrak have implemented service reductions expected to last for five weeks. This includes halving weekday train trips between Newark and Secaucus, with most trains to and from Manhattan’s Pennsylvania Station rerouted through Hoboken Terminal. To accommodate these changes, passengers are offered free transfers to buses, ferries operated by NY Waterway, and PATH trains. Amtrak’s Acela, Northeast Regional, and Keystone services are also running fewer trains during this period, with regular service anticipated to resume by Nov. 15.

NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri acknowledged that the disruptions pose challenges for riders but emphasized the long-term benefits of the project. “We’re replacing this 116-year-old bridge so it never becomes a problem for their community again,” he said at Hoboken Terminal. This is the second service interruption this year related to the Portal Bridge replacement, following a month of cuts early in 2026 when equipment was transferred to the new Portal North Bridge, which opened for westbound traffic in March.

The existing Portal Bridge, which spans the Hackensack River, has been plagued by mechanical failures, including instances when the movable span got stuck, requiring workers to manually reset tracks. Its outdated design also forces trains to slow down, contributing to widespread delays along the corridor. Riders like Robert Miller, a media worker from Maplewood, expressed resignation despite added commute times, noting that the bridge’s condition has long necessitated an upgrade.

However, not all commuters have the flexibility to absorb these inconveniences. Some riders voiced frustration with NJ Transit’s recommendation to work from home when possible, a suggestion not feasible for all passengers. Kaela Hohn, a commuter from South Orange, described doubled travel times and crowded trains that made her trip especially difficult.

NJ Transit officials report that lessons learned from the earlier service disruptions have helped improve operations during this second phase. While some commuters, like Gary Schwartzbard, a computer engineer from Maplewood, accepted the temporary inconveniences with patience, others found the crowded platforms and altered schedules challenging.

Upon completion of the project, all train traffic will be routed over the new bridge, allowing for the decommissioning of the old one and reducing one of the Northeast Corridor’s most persistent chokepoints. The extensive work aims to provide a more reliable and modern connection between New Jersey and Manhattan for the estimated 200,000 daily riders who depend on this vital route.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.