CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON LONG SLIP PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BETWEEN HOBOKEN TERMINAL AND NEWPORT
Groundbreaking advances the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
February 11, 2008
NJT-08-013
NEWARK, NJ ¿ U.S. Senator Robert Menendez and NJ TRANSIT Executive Director Richard Sarles joined Hoboken Mayor David Roberts and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy today to break ground on a project that will provide a pedestrian link between Jersey City and Hoboken, completing a critical segment of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway.
When completed, the pedestrian bridge will span the Long Slip Canal to connect the nearby Newport section of Jersey City with Hoboken Terminal, providing pedestrians with a direct path to light rail, commuter rail, bus, PATH and ferry services.
"I am pleased to have secured federal funding for a project that will link two of New Jersey¿s thriving Waterfront communities, bridging a crucial gap in the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway," said Senator Menendez. "The Long Slip pedestrian bridge will provide local residents with a convenient, environmentally-friendly means of accessing the multitude of mass transit options available at Hoboken Terminal."
"The Hudson County Waterfront Walkway offers non-vehicular access to NJ TRANSIT and trans-Hudson services at Hoboken Terminal, turning recreational activities such as walking and biking into practical modes of transportation," said Transportation Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Board Chairman Kris Kolluri. "Construction of the Long Slip pedestrian bridge will integrate the Waterfront Walkway into this multimodal transportation network."
The 175-foot-long, 30-foot-wide bridge will feature lighting, railings and signage, as well as a surface of brick pavers to match the existing Waterfront Walkway that it will connect to at the Hoboken Terminal light rail station. It will be constructed of pre-cast and cast-in-place reinforced concrete.
NJ TRANSIT¿s portion of the Waterfront Walkway will link to a new temporary walkway connecting the Long Slip pedestrian bridge to the Newport section of Jersey City. The temporary walkway will be constructed by the Newport Associates Development Company, the developers of Newport, and will be completed in advance of the pedestrian bridge.
"With the completion of this critical link in the development of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, residents of Waterfront communities will be able to access employment, education and recreation centers without getting into a car," said Congressman Albio Sires.
"The Long Slip pedestrian bridge will offer ready access to the transportation options at Hoboken Terminal, extending the reach of public transportation for local residents," said State Senator Brian Stack.
"We look forward to this project opening up new travel opportunities for many residents, with convenient pedestrian access to and from our bus, rail and light rail services," said Sarles. "We thank Senator Menendez for his support in securing the necessary funding, as well as Governor Corzine for replenishing the Transportation Trust Fund, which was used to fund this project."
"This is an exciting day for residents of Hudson County, as today¿s groundbreaking marks the start of a project that is essential to completing the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway," said Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise.
"With convenient access to Hoboken from other Waterfront communities, the new pedestrian bridge will provide us another means of sharing all that the City has to offer, both as a transportation hub and a center for recreation, shopping and nightlife," said Mayor Roberts.
"This project will bridge the gap between two vibrant cities, providing easy access to Hoboken for our Newport area residents and enabling us to welcome visitors from Hoboken and beyond that will have easy pedestrian access to our community," said Mayor Healy.
"Construction of the Long Slip pedestrian bridge is instrumental in Governor Corzine's renewed commitment for the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway," said Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner, NJ Department of Environmental Protection. "As part of this larger project, this bridge will help to reconnect residents with their communities by providing public access to outdoor recreation along the waterfront and the most environmentally-sound means of accessing mass transit options."
In September 2007, the NJ TRANSIT Board of Directors awarded a $6.4 million contract to Simpson & Brown, Inc., of West Cranford, NJ, for the construction of a pedestrian bridge spanning the east end of the Long Slip Canal adjacent to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station at Hoboken Terminal.
Construction of the Long Slip pedestrian bridge is expected to be completed in spring 2009.
About the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway
The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway currently extends along nearly 15 miles in Hudson County and encompasses state, county and municipal parks. Once complete, it will provide a contiguous 18.5 mile linear walkway system of parks, piers and open space along the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay waterfront, extending from the George Washington Bridge to the Bayonne Bridge.
About NJ TRANSIT
NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing nearly 865,000 weekday trips on 240 bus routes, three light rail lines and 11 commuter rail lines. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 164 rail stations, 60 light rail stations and more than 18,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.