Wittpenn Bridge
FACTS
KEYWORDS: Bridge General Contracting Heavy Construction Infrastructure New Jersey Transportation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Route 7 Wittpenn Bridge project is located within Jersey City (east side of the Hackensack River) and Kearny (west side of the river) in Hudson County. The bridge serves as a major connector between Routes 139 and 1&9T to the east, and the New Jersey Turnpike Interchange 15W and Newark/Jersey City Turnpike to the west.
The current 2,169-foot Wittpenn Bridge has two 10-foot lanes in each direction with no shoulders. The vertical lift bridge was built in 1930.
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Civil’s job is to replace the 85-year-old bridge with a new one south of the existing bridge. Work includes construction of a new vertical lift span, the associated steel lift towers, control system and approaches. The new bridge will carry two 12-foot through lanes, a 12-foot auxiliary lane and an 8- to 10-foot right shoulder in each direction, as well as a 6-foot-wide sidewalk along the eastbound roadway. It also will provide a minimum vertical clearance of 70 feet above Mean High Water (MHW) EL 2.19 in the closed position as compared to 35 feet for the old Wittpenn Bridge.
Upon completion, the project will reduce vehicular and marine traffic conflicts and provide the public with safer travel conditions.