Governor Murphy Announces Changes To The Turnpike Project

Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority have unveiled a major update to the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension Improvements Program that could reshape a stretch of Turnpike roadway through Hudson and Essex Counties. 

The state now plans to scale back the project and focus on smarter more cost-effective design that connects the extension directly to port facilities in Bayonne and Jersey City. Officials say the revision will save about $500 million overall, money they plan to reinvest into other needed upgrades across the region’s transportation network. 

“We looked at the needs of local communities, the growth at our ports, and how people actually use this roadway,” Murphy said, “this updated plan gets good where they need to go more efficiently, and it eases pressure on surrounding streets without adding unnecessary lanes.” 

The design eliminates through-lanes and instead builds direct ramps that move truck traffic straight from the Turnpike to port sites in Bayonne and Jersey City. Officials say this will help keep heavy fright vehicles off local roads and improve safety for everyday drivers as well. 

Hudson County Executive Craig Guy called the updated focus “a responsible decision that protects quality of life while still moving forward on critical infrastructure.” Union leaders pointed to the work as an aid for good-paying construction jobs throughout the region. 

Construction on the first part of the project is expected to stretch over the next five years, with the old bridge remaining gin service until the first new span is finished and traffic is shifted over. This phased approach is designed to keep the highway functional while improvements are underway.