FAQ – Newark Bay Hudson County Extension Improvements Program

The Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program team is committed to transparency. In keeping with our commitment, we developed this list of responses to your most common questions. These questions were submitted via this website, our public involvement app, or at Turnpike Authority Board of Commissioners meetings. These FAQs also reflect questions asked during the Public Information Centers and community and stakeholder meetings.

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What is the purpose of this Program?

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority’s number one priority is the safety of the New Jersey families and workers who rely on our bridges and roadways. This critical modernization and safety Program will rebuild the nearly 70-year-old portion of the New Jersey Turnpike known as the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension (Extension). The Program will completely replace all 29 aging bridges across the Extension with modern, innovative, and climate resilient structures designed to meet the needs of today and the future. The Program will also support the expansion of the port facilities in New Jersey, and other commercial and residential development in Bayonne, Jersey City, and Newark. Ultimately, the Program will improve safety; relieve traffic congestion and its harmful impacts on drivers, communities, and the environment; and accommodate the continued growth of the surrounding communities and ports.
Why do the bridges need to be replaced? Why can’t they be rehabbed?

For years, the Extension’s 29 bridges have carried loads heavier than they were designed to carry. The wear and tear caused by age has been made worse by the increased volume of larger, heavier trucks and electric vehicles. Right now, frequent, costly, and disruptive construction and maintenance are required to keep the bridges safe.

Rehabilitating these bridges instead of rebuilding them would result in significant and lengthy construction and increased traffic congestion on local roads without resolving the existing safety issues. The safe operation of the Extension requires that the bridges be replaced.

Around the nation and across the world, we have seen the tragic consequences of ignoring aging infrastructure. We simply cannot and will not take that risk.
Does that mean the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension is unsafe?

No, absolutely not. Safety is the first and most important consideration in every decision made by the Turnpike Authority. If the Extension were ever deemed unsafe, the Turnpike Authority would limit access or close it altogether for repairs, as was done in 2017 when a serious structural issue was discovered. A portion of the Extension was immediately closed to traffic and remained closed for 36 hours while emergency repairs were made.
When does construction start?

The Program consists of four independent projects. Construction on the first and highest priority project, the reconstruction between Interchange 14 in Newark and Interchange 14A in Bayonne and Jersey City, will begin in 2026. Construction will be staged to maintain traffic flow and minimize impacts on the surrounding communities and environment. Construction on the remaining projects will begin over the course of the next decade.
Why can’t you just fix the Extension without adding lanes?

Bayonne, Jersey City, Newark, and the surrounding communities are all experiencing tremendous housing and employment growth that is projected to continue. New Jersey’s ports are also expanding. Because of all this strong growth, the Extension is carrying more cars and trucks than it was designed to handle, leading to traffic congestion and cars re-routing to local streets. The first project will add two lanes in each direction between Interchanges 14 and 14A. One lane will be added in each direction between Interchanges 14A and 14C. No lanes will be added in either direction between Interchange 14C and Jersey Avenue.
How much does this Program cost?

The Program is estimated to cost $10.7 billion, putting it in line with other regional infrastructure programs. It will be paid for entirely from Turnpike Authority toll revenues. No local, county, state, or federal tax dollars are being used to fund the Program.
Why does the Program cost that much?

The entire 8.1-mile Extension, including all 29 bridges, must be rebuilt to ensure safety and resiliency while also complying with environmental standards. The estimated Program cost is consistent with current industry trends and other infrastructure projects of this magnitude and accounts for inflation, as the Program spans multiple decades.
How is this Program being funded?

Like all Turnpike Authority capital improvements, this Program will be paid for entirely from Turnpike Authority toll revenues. No local, county, state, or federal tax dollars are being used.
Isn’t this Program taking money away from public transit?

No. It is important to understand that the Turnpike Authority and NJ TRANSIT are two completely separate entities. However, the Turnpike Authority understands the need for and importance of public transit and contributes, on average, half a billion dollars a year—a historic level of funding—to the State for public transit purposes. Once the first project, the reconstruction between Interchanges 14 and 14A, is completed the Turnpike Authority will have contributed $6 billion to the State for public transit purposes. We’re also committed to contributing up to $89 million annually to the Hudson Tunnel Project, overseen by the Gateway Development Commission, which will provide long-term resiliency, reliability, and redundancy to hundreds of thousands of daily passengers who travel into Manhattan. The Hudson Tunnel Project consists of the construction of a new, two-track passenger rail tunnel under the Hudson River, and other supporting projects.
Why not cancel the widening and reallocate the money to NJ TRANSIT?

The Program funding is not available to subsidize NJ TRANSIT fares or otherwise eliminate the need for fare increases. The Turnpike Authority has a covenant with its bondholders requiring this money to be spent on vehicular transportation projects. The agreement further requires that the money be borrowed for capital infrastructure projects rather than operational needs.
Will the Program worsen air quality in surrounding communities?

The air quality in the surrounding communities is expected to be essentially the same or improved based on the analysis in the draft NJ Executive Order 215 Environmental Impact Statement and the draft NEPA Environmental Assessment. It is worth noting that the analysis did not account for increased use of EVs, which will drastically reduce tailpipe emissions in coming decades.
Will this Program displace local residents?

There will be no residential displacements as a result of the Program.
Will there be contracting opportunities for small businesses on this Program?

Yes. The Turnpike Authority is committed to ensuring that the economic opportunity generated by the Program benefits both residents and small businesses alike, particularly those in historically underserved neighborhoods. The Program will create opportunities for both New Jersey Small Business Enterprises and Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses. To register your business as an SBE, click here.
Will there be job opportunities?

Yes, the first project alone, the reconstruction between Interchanges 14 and 14A, will create approximately 25,000 construction jobs. The Turnpike Authority is committed to ensuring that the residents of Newark, Bayonne, and Jersey City, and the surrounding communities, benefit from the economic opportunities generated by the Program. As the projects ramp up, the Turnpike Authority will hold community engagement sessions to make residents aware of all opportunities associated with the Program. To learn more about employment opportunities and to sign up for updates, visit the Program website: nbhce.njta.com.
Will there be an Exclusive Bus Lane?

There are no plans to implement a lane exclusively for bus use at this time, as buses only account for only 2% of the Extension’s current peak (rush) hour traffic volume. However, the Program is designed to allow for a general-purpose lane to be converted to a bus-only lane if necessary, which is not currently possible on the existing Extension.
Won’t adding lanes create more congestion?

No. In fact, the traffic flow between Interchanges 14 and 14A will be greatly improved with the addition of two lanes in each direction. Current traffic flow on the Extension during peak hours is unstable, meaning it is congested and often bumper-to-bumper. Future demand has been closely studied using a model that considers population and employment growth, residential and commercial development, and planned highway and transit projects. The additional lanes will greatly reduce current congestion and accommodate future traffic demand.
Won’t adding more lanes create more congestion at the Holland Tunnel?

The Holland Tunnel is not the cause of projected increases in traffic on the Extension. The primary contributors to Extension traffic traveling between Interchanges 14 and 14A are the port facility in Bayonne as well as existing and planned land uses such as housing, retail, and warehouse development in Bayonne, Jersey City, and Newark. Independent third-party origin-destination data show nearly 80% of eastbound Extension traffic over the Newark Bay Bridge is bound for Jersey City (56%), Bayonne (17%), and other parts of Hudson County (6%).
When do you anticipate preparing an EIS for the remainder of the Program?

The next NJ Executive Order 215 Environmental Impact Statement will be for the reconstruction between Columbus Drive and Jersey Avenue. This is the second highest priority project due to the condition of the aging structures. This draft NJ Executive Order 215 Environmental Impact Statement is anticipated to be submitted in the next 1 to 2 years. Similar to the current draft NJ Executive Order 215 Environmental Impact Statement for Interchanges 14 to 14A, it will be informed by meetings with local and county officials and other stakeholders.
What are some of the measures that are being taken to minimize environmental and traffic impacts on the communities near the first project?

The most significant effort to minimize impacts on the community is the staging of the replacement of the Newark Bay Bridge. A new bridge will be built alongside the existing Newark Bay Bridge while the existing bridge remains operational. Once the new bridge is finished, the existing bridge will be decommissioned, and another new bridge will be built in its place. This approach will mitigate community and environmental impacts and prevent a major increase in traffic congestion.
When are you planning to hold more public meetings?

There will be ongoing public outreach throughout the first project and the entirety of the Program. In addition to the Public Information Centers held in Newark, Bayonne, and Jersey City, we also conducted a virtual Public Information Center in keeping with our commitment to inclusion and accessibility. The virtual Public Information Center can be viewed here.