NJ Transit moves forward with contractor prequalification for Raritan Bridge replacement

April 24, 2019
The bridge, known as River Draw, was severely damaged during Superstorm Sandy and its replacement will be constructed adjacent to the existing bridge to minimize impacts to passenger and freight rail traffic.

New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) has issued a request for special prequalification for contractors interested in bidding on the contract to build a replacement bridge over the Raritan River between Perth Amboy and South Amboy. The existing bridge, colloquially known as River Draw, sustained significant damage during Superstorm Sandy, and the replacement bridge will ensure many decades of safe, continuous use for NJ Transit customers.

“Continuing to make strategic capital investments in our infrastructure is critical to the long-term reliability of the transportation system. With the damage inflicted by Superstorm Sandy, the current River Draw has a reduced lifespan and requires replacement,” said NJ Transit Executive Director Kevin Corbett. “This project aligns with our mission to build a robust and sustainable system that will better withstand the effects of extreme weather, while meeting the current and future transportation needs of our customers.”

The new bridge will be on an alignment adjacent to the existing bridge to ensure there is minimal service disruption to rail traffic. Built in 1908, River Draw is the sole rail link for 17 of the 20 stations on the North Jersey Coast Line between popular recreation destinations along the Jersey Shore and major employment centers of Newark, Jersey City, and Manhattan. It carries almost 10,000 daily NJ Transit customers and moves two million tons of freight annually via Conrail.

A pre-special prequalification submittal conference has been scheduled for interested firms on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at NJ Transit Headquarters at One Penn Plaza East in Newark, N.J. Space for this conference is limited and interested firms may send no more than two representatives. All attendees are required to RSVP to Taishida Chapman, Managing Contract Specialist, via email at [email protected].

Attendance at the pre-special prequalification submittal conference is highly recommended to ensure mutual understanding and a smooth application process. Questionnaires for special prequalification are available on the Bid Express website at https://bidexpress.com, and are due by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2019.