The construction parking area is right up against the old bridge, providing an ideal view from the southeast corner. You can see the swing mechanism on the bottom of the bridge, pre-1910 piers, and a train every few minutes since multiple rail lines are consolidated here on the Northeast Corridor.


At the top of the truss approach, you can also see the light signaling the bridge status and the cables that tie the span back to the mainland. I imagine they are carrying electrical and/or communication service only, given their size. The second photo is the same assembly on the north side of the bridge.


The power lines following the track to the north need to remain high enough to avoid being raised for river traffic, resulting in the tall towers on each side of the river. On the existing bridge, the towers are actually in line with the railroad. The relocated towers will be on the east side of the new bridge, minimizing relocation but removing the chance for photos like this.


Views from the southwest side of the bridge.


Looking east from the bridge, the next four bridges from left to right (or upstream to downstream) are the 1928 Lower Hack Lift Bridge, the new NJ 7 Wittpenn Bridge, the 1930 Harsimus Branch Lift Bridge that was right next to the old Wittpenn Bridge, and the 1900 lift bridge that serves PATH traffic into New York. The truss on the left of the first photo carries US 1-9 from the Pulaski Skyway over the railroads from the latter two photos.


Speaking of which, the Skyway. The second photo features the 1925 Kearny Generating Station, inaugurated by Thomas Edison himself.


In the other direction, I peeked under the NJ Turnpike East Hack bridge to see the next two upriver: the 1889 DB Drawbridge (decommissioned in 2002) and the 1959 Upper Hack Lift Bridge (very much in service).


With the DB Drawbridge permanently swung open, I can bring you closeups of the operating shed, old track, and other equipment never retrieved.


While touring the new bridge under construction, these were the best photos I could obtain of the old bridge just to the east - by jumping and snapping the camera in mid-air so as not to climb on any of their materials. It looks nice with the Skyway behind.


Fortunately, that netted me a few closeups best captured at eye level, such as the operating shed for this active bridge and girder connection details.


The tour ended at the north side of the new Portal Bridge, so here is one last photo looking back south.

See the new Portal North Bridge under construction
Back to Portal Bridge main page

Across to NJ 7
Across to US 1-9
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