Newark, Jersey City Mayors Praise Sherrill for Scaling Down Disputed Newark Bay Bridge Project

Mayors claim original project would have 'opened the floodgates of heavy traffic' through communities already burdened by pollution.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Jersey City Mayor James Solomon applauded New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill's recommendation to scale back the controversial Newark Bay Bridge expansion project. The mayors claimed the original project would have increased traffic and air pollution in their communities. Sherrill's revised plan involves replacing the existing four-lane bridge instead of building a larger eight-lane span.

Why it matters

The Newark Bay Bridge project has been a source of controversy, with Newark and Jersey City officials opposing the original expansion plan due to concerns over increased traffic and pollution in their communities. Sherrill's decision to downsize the project is seen as a win for local residents and a shift towards more sustainable transportation policy.

The details

Sherrill is recommending the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Board advance a $6.7 billion Newark Bay Bridge program that involves immediately constructing a four-lane bridge with shoulders, instead of the previously proposed twin-span, eight-lane bridge. This downsizes the project and maintains current capacity while allowing the aging 1956 span to be replaced by 2031. The broader Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension program advanced by the previous administration had called for doubling the size of the bridge, which drew opposition from Newark and Jersey City officials and environmental advocates.

  • In October 2025, Newark City Council President C. Lawrence Crump held a small business opportunities information session to help local firms learn about upcoming contracting opportunities related to the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension program.
  • From 2019 through 2024, there was not a single month without a lane or shoulder closure on the Newark Bay Bridge due to maintenance activities.
  • In 2017, the Newark Bay Bridge closed for 36 hours due to a significant structural issue.

The players

Ras J. Baraka

The mayor of Newark, New Jersey.

James Solomon

The mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey.

Mikie Sherrill

The governor of New Jersey who recommended scaling back the Newark Bay Bridge expansion project.

Phil Murphy

The former governor of New Jersey who had advanced the broader Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension program.

C. Lawrence Crump

The Newark City Council President who held a small business opportunities information session related to the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension program.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“For years, our communities fought against a seriously ill-conceived plan while proposing serious alternatives. It took Gov. Sherrill's leadership to listen and act in the best interest of the people of New Jersey.”

— Ras J. Baraka and James Solomon, Mayors of Newark and Jersey City (tapinto.net)

“This $6.7 billion investment will be the largest single project the New Jersey Turnpike Authority has ever advanced. I am also recommending that the Turnpike Board continue to advance design and permitting work on the roadway structures leading to the Holland Tunnel for safety improvements only, without expanding capacity.”

— Mikie Sherrill, Governor of New Jersey (tapinto.net)

“Gov. Sherrill promised to make New Jersey more affordable for taxpayers, but in her second month in office she's urging the New Jersey Turnpike Authority to adopt expensive PLAs on the Newark Bay Bridge project. This will undoubtedly increase the cost of this project for all taxpayers, as PLAs have been proven to do in study after study.”

— Samantha Roman, President of Associated Builders and Contractors New Jersey (ABC-NJ) (tapinto.net)

What’s next

The first contract for bridge reconstruction is expected to be awarded in early 2026, with construction starting in the spring.

The takeaway

Sherrill's decision to scale down the Newark Bay Bridge project is a victory for Newark and Jersey City residents who have long opposed the original expansion plan, which they claimed would have exacerbated traffic and pollution in their communities. This move represents a shift towards more sustainable transportation policy that prioritizes the needs of impacted neighborhoods.