Newark Bay Bridge to be replaced with less lanes amid environmental concerns

Newark Bay Bridge will be demolished and rebuilt with four lanes instead of eight after environmentalists and advocacy groups raised concerns to Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The bridge’s replacement comes after it was among the National Transportation Safety Board’s list of 68 spans nationwide with a potentially higher than acceptable collapse risk. A previous version of the replacement plan involved expanding the bridge by doubling its four lanes with an additional bridge. Advocacy groups and local government officials raised concerns about increased air pollution from additional traffic, and disproportionately harm neighborhoods in Newark, Bayonne, and Jersey City. Sherrill said the project will allow traffic to shift from the existing bridge by 2031, aligning with the safety board’s concerns.

From NJ Spotlight News.