Project Overview
The $1.44 billion Goethals Bridge Replacement project involves the construction of a new dual-span bridge to replace the aging Goethals Bridge, which has been in service since 1928 and carries I-278 across the Arthur Kill channel between Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey. The bridge is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) and is one of three toll bridge crossings connecting Staten Island and New Jersey. |
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The existing Goethals Bridge provides four narrow 10-foot travel lanes with no shoulders and serves 80,000 vehicles per day. The replacement project will include the construction of two new parallel cable-stayed bridges providing three 12-foot travel lanes, a 12-foot outer shoulder, and a five-foot inner shoulder per span. The westbound span will also include a 10-foot wide sidewalk and bikeway along its outer edge. Space will also be reserved between the replacement spans to accommodate possible transit service in the future. The replacement spans are being built to the south of the existing Goethals Bridge, which will remain in service during the construction period and then be dismantled after the new spans open to traffic.
The project is being delivered as a public-private partnership (P3) between the Port Authority and NYNJ Link LLC, a private concession company. Under this design, build, finance and maintain (DBFM) concession, NYNJ Link will construct the new bridge and then perform operational and capital maintenance over a 35-year operating period. The Port Authority will retain ownership of the new bridge and be responsible for toll collection. It will make milestone payments to the private developer upon completion of specified construction activities, as well as monthly availability payments based on maintenance performance and availability of the bridge to motorists once it is open to service.