Progress continues to accelerate on the Portal North Bridge as crews advance a major milestone on the Northeast Corridor. H&H is proud to serve as Amtrak’s lead Construction Support Services Consultant for the Portal North Bridge Project, supporting the coordination and execution of this complex transition.

Beginning in February 2026, Amtrak initiated the complex “cutover” process, transferring one track of rail service from the existing Portal Bridge to the new Portal North Bridge. This effort marks the first major bridge cutover project ever performed on the Northeast Corridor and represents an important step toward improving long term reliability and capacity for rail travel between New Jersey and New York.

NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak are replacing the 116-year-old Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River with a higher fixed span bridge that will no longer need to open for river traffic. Once complete, Portal North Bridge will provide more reliable service and greater operational flexibility along one of the busiest passenger rail corridors in the country.

The Portal North Bridge project is one of several transformative infrastructure investments underway across the Northeast Corridor, supported by generational funding from state and federal partners. It reflects the strength of collaboration among Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, and the many engineers, contractors, and construction professionals delivering this critical project.

Congratulations to the crews and partners driving this historic effort forward.

Amtrak Gallery of Images

Amtrak Video Cutover Update

Photo Courtesy of Amtrak