Mammoet Lifts Complex Bridge in NY Rail Upgrade

Heavy lift specialist Mammoet has successfully completed a key stage in the replacement of New York’s ageing Portal Bridge, raising and positioning three massive new sections over the Hackensack River in a delicate and highly coordinated operation.

Working in partnership with the Skanska-Traylor Joint Venture and Carver Marine, Mammoet played a pivotal role in one of the most significant infrastructure upgrades in the New York metropolitan area.

The project will replace the existing 100-year-old swing bridge between Newark, New Jersey, and New York City—a longtime choke point along what is considered the busiest rail corridor in the Western Hemisphere. The Portal Bridge currently often slows Amtrak and NJ Transit trains due to its defective swing mechanism, which limits speeds to 100km/h.

The new fixed-span structure, by contrast, will sit 15 metres above the river—more than double the current clearance—eliminating the need for a movable span and allowing both rail and marine traffic to operate without interruption.

The installation required the transport of three 120-metre-long bridge sections from the assembly yard at the Port of Coeymans. These were first moved to a roll-on location, where they were loaded onto barges for the journey down the Hudson River. 

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Upon arrival at the Hackensack River, each section was transferred to a temporary mid-river platform—referred to as a “transfer bent”—before being moved again onto a second barge equipped with Mammoet’s Mega Jack system.

Using this system, Mammoet engineers lifted the bridge spans to the required height, enabling precise positioning with the help of tugboats and winches. The two outer sections required an additional phase, being slid into their final position using specialised slide track systems.

“The bridge section’s relocation and successful loading onto the barge demanded careful planning and close coordination with Skanska and Carver, and we’re proud to report a seamless operation,” said Sidney King, Mammoet’s Project Manager. 

“Mammoet is honoured to play a role in this vital infrastructure project, which will enhance rail transit and meet the New York area’s future transportation demands.”

The lift marks the first major milestone in the Portal North Bridge project, which is expected to bring lasting improvements in reliability and capacity to the Northeast Corridor, where a train passes every two minutes carrying up to 200,000 passengers daily.

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