Bayonne Bridge Roadway Project Costs Increase: Port Authority

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Michael Shriner will serve as the next CEO of BCB Community Bank in Bayonne, New Jersey, which is sandwiched between Newark, Staten Island and Brooklyn.

Construction costs for the Bayonne Bridge "Raise the Roadway" project have increased and the projected completion is now two years behind schedule, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced on Oct. 1.

The Port Authority, which operates the bridge connecting Staten Island, N.Y. to Bayonne, N.J. said a revised timetable for project completion is expected in mid-2019, which will potentially result in a 15% increase in total costs. The $1.3 billion initiative began in March 2013 and is designed to raise the navigational clearance for ships under the bridge from 151 to 215 feet as well as provide commuters with 12-foot lanes and a 12-foot bike and pedestrian walkway.

The Port Authority attributes the project's delayed completion to "numerous challenges" including harsh winter conditions in early 2015. The agency also said there has been changes in project staging to address community concerns and reduce construction impacts overnight. Modifications have also been made to the existing steel arch to ensure safety and allow traffic to continue during construction.

The project, by a joint venture of Skanska Koch/Kiewit Infrastructure Co., is nearly 50% complete, according to Port Authority officials.

"The Bayonne Bridge's 'Raise the Roadway' project is one of the most innovative and challenging projects the Port Authority has ever undertaken, and will help maintain our position as the East Coast's premier port for international trade," said Port Authority Executive Director Pat Foye in a statement.

"We are confident that we will complete the Bayonne Bridge's 'Raise the Roadway' project within the revised timetable," said Michael Cobelli, president and CEO of Skanska Civil Inc. "This has been a challenging project, but we have committed the resources to complete it successfully, with full awareness of how vitally important it is for the regional economy."

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Transportation industry New York New Jersey
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