NJ Transit Commuters Face Disruptions During Portal Bridge Construction

Temporary service changes and reduced schedules expected for at least a month as critical infrastructure work gets underway.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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A major construction project on the aging Portal Bridge in New Jersey will cause significant disruptions for NJ Transit commuters traveling to and from New York City over the next month. The cutover work involves transferring active rail traffic from the old bridge to the newly constructed Portal North Bridge, requiring temporary reductions in service, modified schedules, and longer travel times.

Why it matters

The Portal Bridge is a critical piece of infrastructure along the Northeast Corridor, and these upgrades are necessary to ensure the safety and reliability of rail service between New Jersey and New York. However, the disruptions will impact thousands of daily commuters who rely on NJ Transit to get to and from work, potentially causing delays, crowding, and inconvenience.

The details

The construction work includes deactivating legacy infrastructure, reconfiguring track alignments, and integrating new signaling, power, and communications systems. Due to the interdependent nature of these systems, the work must occur within defined time windows, requiring temporary reductions in operational flexibility across the corridor.

  • The construction project began on Sunday, February 16, 2026.
  • Regular NJ Transit service is expected to resume on March 15, 2026.

The players

NJ Transit

The public transportation system serving the state of New Jersey, including bus, rail, and light rail services.

Amtrak

The national passenger railroad service of the United States, which operates on the Northeast Corridor that includes the Portal Bridge.

Portal Bridge

A century-old swing bridge over the Hackensack River that is a critical piece of infrastructure for rail service between New Jersey and New York.

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What’s next

According to NJ Transit, regular service will resume on March 15th, and customers are advised to check their website before heading out the door.

The takeaway

This construction project on the aging Portal Bridge is a necessary step to ensure the safety and reliability of rail service between New Jersey and New York, but it will come at a significant cost to commuters who rely on NJ Transit to get to and from work over the next month. Flexibility, planning ahead, and remote work options will be key for those impacted by the disruptions.