Public open house held in Jersey City to discuss Newark Bay Bridge rebuilding

The New Jersey Turnpike Authority held a public open house in Jersey City to discuss the rebuilding of the Newark Bay Bridge, but opponents walked out in the middle of the presentation citing concerns about the bridge's capacity to handle the weight that travels through it daily.

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) -- In Jersey City, tempers flared in a public open house held by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority when opponents walked out in the middle of a presentation the agency was giving on rebuilding the Newark Bay-Hudson County extension.

The program's first project is the reconstruction of the Newark Bay Bridge between Newark, Bayonne and Jersey City. It is set to start in 2026 and last approximately 10 years.  

According to Daniel Ramirez, a union iron local worker, local 11 said the bridge doesn’t have the capacity for the load of weight that travels through it daily.

“Bayonne port, Newark port, Elizabeth port, so we have tons and tons of weight, so that bridge is not built for that,” Ramirez said.

“The ports are expanding, Jersey City, Bayonne are thriving and growing. This program will support local and state economy in order to provide regional mobility,” Lisa Navarro, the program manager at NJ Turnpike Authority, said.

Earlier in the day, opponents held a rally against the extension. Jersey City’s Mayor Steve Fulop and other elected officials oppose multi-million projects, citing that New Jersey is already congested.

“$10 billion can go to solve every mass transit issue facing New Jersey now,” Fulop said.

Jersey City residents are also concerned about the ever-growing congested streets their city faces, saying the two main state agencies are not communicating there’s a complete disconnect between public transportation and highways.

"There should be some sort of coordinated system of transportation. This is a major transportation hub,” said Joyce Booth.

The agency said their meeting formats include one-on-one opportunities to speak directly with program members and ask them questions.

You can visit their website, where the public can submit their questions or concerns,