All Things Portal Bridge: Amtrak and NJT Status and Replacement Discussion

Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Sun Oct 15, 2023 4:43 am
The latter, he said, could impact the track alignment at the old Portal Bridge and the structures that support the overhead wires that power the trains, which have led to work stoppages on the new bridge.
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Did the wire problems this early morning occur because of this?

BTG: This topic needs to be added to the ongoing Portal Bridge discussion at the NYC Areawide
Rail Forum - which is at the very top of the page as a sticky...MACTRAXX

How did everyone miss this including this poster. Portal bridge stuck open several hours again this morning. No links left as far as I could find.

Well, they are making good progress. Many girders already placed across the supports, foundation already poured on the non-elevated section, and progress continues with every passing day.

They've got a time-lapse video posted recently of the past year of progress (December 22-December 23) :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zBoFDkftiE

Can see both live and historical construction site footage at https://www.njtransit.com/portal

Now understand why this project so expensive. That construction bridge is not cheap with all the pilings needed. Then the crane bridges probably have to have a higher load rating than the new bridge will ever experience. Then can the construction bridging be use for demo of the present swing bridge? Have no idea. Then removal of all the construction bridges will have to be accomplished.

IMO the costs of all the temporary construction items will cost much more than the actual new bridge permanent materials Now how much of those construction items can be used for the new Portal south bridge have no idea,

I don't see how the temporary piers can be used for demolition. It's simply too far away and the cranes would have to work over the newly-built ROW?

The pilings are that massive because of currents, the swamp, and presumably a design requirement to withstand a potential collision from a barge below.

Is the future South Portal bridge going to follow the footprint of the present bridge once the swing bridge is removed?

west point wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:25 pm Is the future South Portal bridge going to follow the footprint of the present bridge once the swing bridge is removed?

Pretty sure none of that has been decided yet.