NJ-3 EB over the Hackensack River

The NJ Route 3 Eastbound Bridge over the Hackensack River was originally built it 1934 as a bascule bridge. The bridge carried both Eastbound and Westbound traffic, until 1963, when the Westbound Bridge was constructed. In 1964, the bridge underwent a major reconstruction, and the bascule span was replaced with a fixed span. This fixed span is a camelback through truss, which uses the Parker Truss configuration. The truss was floated down the Hackensack River, then was lifted into place. It was installed 20 feet higher than the previous moveable span to provide adequate navigational clearance. The bridge also contains 16 approach spans, which includes girder and floorbeam system spans and girder spans. The bridge has a total length of 1,552 feet, and a deck width of 60 feet.

In 2022, the NJ State Transportation Commissioner described this bridge as being “in the worst condition of any in the state”. It was announced that the bridge will be replaced with a new structure. The new project will incorporate provisions (including piles and foundation work) for a potential future expansion of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, from Secaucus Junction to the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Funding for the project is being provided as part of The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The new bridge will maintain the same vertical and horizontal clearances over the river. The roadway will be widened from 53 feet to 74 feet, which will add shoulders and an auxiliary lane from the New Jersey Turnpike on-ramp to the Meadowlands Parkway off-ramp. The new bridge will be built adjacent to the existing bridge, to minimize traffic impacts. The current schedule shows Preliminary Engineering from winter 2024 to summer 2027, Final Engineering Design from Summer 2027 to winter 2030, and Construction from summer 2030 to winter 2032.