Newark Bay HC Extension

Over the next 25 years, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority anticipated a significant increase in commercial and passenger vehicular traffic on the 8.1-mile Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension (NB-HCE) corridor. The NB-HCE, the primary corridor connecting the Tri-State region to New York City via the Holland Tunnel, experienced a growing travel demand, placing additional strain on the roadway and the interchanges at 14A, 14B, and 14C, which connect to Jersey City and the Holland Tunnel. The existing structures, originally constructed in 1956, were nearing the end of their serviceable life. As a result, NJTA decided that a complete replacement of the corridor structures was the preferred alternative.

The entire project corridor was divided into four projects for final design solicitation and construction contract letting purposes. SJH provided structural and geotechnical engineering services for conceptual plan development, preliminary design, and refinement of the preliminary design for the replacement of 11 structures. This included 2 structures in Project 1, 5 structures in Project 2, 2 structures in Project 3, and 2 structures in Project 4. The design also incorporated adjacent retaining walls. Existing structure N3.73 in Project 2 was a 28-span viaduct, while the remaining structures consisted of either single or multiple-span overpasses.

During the Concept Development phase, SJH provided input on the basis of design, risk register, subsurface investigation program, supplemental survey needs, design criteria, horizontal/vertical clearances, service life recommendations, and coordination with Conrail, NJ Transit-HBLRT, NJDOT, and Jersey City. SJH also prepared conceptual cost estimates.

SJH developed the preliminary design of the 11 structures based on the findings presented in the Traffic Analysis Report, the Preliminary Environmental/Land Use Constraints Report, and the Conceptual Design Report. Deliverables included discussions on each structure type and configuration, substructure foundation layouts, developed elevations, and staging sections. SJH assessed historic boring logs and supplemental boring program results to determine suitable foundation types and sizes, as well as ground improvement options for new ramps and widenings. The staging sections included the proposed additional lanes in each direction, accommodating three travel lanes plus full 12’ wide right shoulders on the replacement structures. The design also considered future deck replacement in the framing arrangement to avoid the need for future widening or temporary bridges. Cost estimates were also prepared.

SJH refined the preliminary design by addressing comments and concerns identified through the public hearing process and feedback from environmental regulatory agencies.