EWR NEC Access

The New AirTrain Newark was a $2.05B, 2.5-mile elevated guideway train system and the centerpiece of the modernization of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The new AirTrain replaced the existing AirTrain, which opened in 1996 and had reached the end of its useful life, making it susceptible to frequent breakdowns and delays. The new AirTrain was designed to maximize customer convenience with seamless connections to other forms of transportation and provided modern wayfinding, digital tools, and amenities in AirTrain stations and vehicles. The project accommodated the growth and redevelopment of EWR facilities, offering improved services and connections to the EWR Rail Link Station, terminals, and four parking areas. The Rail Link Station connected passengers to Amtrak, New Jersey Transit, and any future PATH extensions to EWR.

SJH provided the design for the extension of the pedestrian bridge connecting the EWR NEC Station to the parking lot.SJH developed the structural elements for a preliminary structural design (30%) package for a new NEC Access Station and pedestrian bridge. The design included:A new pedestrian bridge connecting the existing NEC pedestrian bridge to the new NEC Access Station.

• A new station vertical circulation core, which included stairs, escalators, and elevators.

• A canopy at the station entrance.

The design considered two structural schemes:

1. A cantilever/stayed condition, which avoided load transfer onto the existing structure but required an additional foundation on third-party property.

2. A sliding expansion joint configuration, where the new pedestrian bridge was supported by the existing structure, transferring vertical loads to the existing structure/foundations, eliminating the need for additional foundations on third-party property.

SJH performed a condition assessment to evaluate the existing pedestrian bridge structure and determine its capacity to support the additional loads. As-built drawings of the existing NEC Pedestrian Bridge were verified through a field visit. The 30% design was based on the 10% Basis of Design Report, 10% design CAD files, and previously developed computer models provided by HNTB. SJH reviewed the condition of the existing tower structure to evaluate its capacity to support the additional load from the new proposed structures.