New Jersey Transit riders have faced several days of service changes due to the ongoing Portal Bridge construction, and they aren’t happy about it.
“It’s been incredibly disruptive,” one commuter told News 4.
Cutover work on the new Portal North Bridge is causing plenty of headaches for commuters, with repeated service disruptions on the tracks.
“My commute’s about a half hour to an hour longer,” commuter Ricki Anastasia said. “And then I have a daughter in daycare, so getting home to get my daughter, I take a charter bus – and that’s more money!”
🚨 Weekday Portal Cutover schedules are in effect.
✔️ Cross-honoring is available between NYC & Hoboken for Montclair Boonton, Gladstone Branch, and Morristown Line rail customers only, via PATH at 33rd St. and NY Waterway at Midtown/W39th St.
Details at https://t.co/BgUrekPSG0 pic.twitter.com/uBm32p0r3y
— NJ TRANSIT (@NJTRANSIT) February 20, 2026
On Thursday, crews were working on the overhead lines of the new bridge, which is set to replace the century-old Portal Bridge right next to it. Seasoned commuters who have traveled along the Northeast Corridor can vouch for how often it malfunctions.
Workers say the next critical phase in the days ahead includes fine-tuning the electric traction and communication systems, before the trains can begin operating.
This latest phase began only a week ago, and the delays are brought on by the fact that trains can only operate on a single track between Newark and Secaucus.
Workers say it is a complex operation, but one riders will grow to appreciate, once it’s all said and done.
“The ride quality, [between] NJ Transit and Amtrak, it’s going to be world class,” Amtrak worker Warren Lebeau told News 4.