Dock Bridge facts for kids
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Dock Bridge
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Amtrak Dock Vertical Lift bridge.
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 Dock Bridge
Location in Hudson County, New Jersey
Dock Bridge
Location in New Jersey
Dock Bridge
Location in the United States
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| Location | Passaic River Newark - Harrison New Jersey |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Waddell & Hardesty; Waddell, Dr.J.A.L. |
| Architectural style | Through-Truss Lift Bridge |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002484 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 3, 1980 |
| Dock Bridge | |
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| Carries | Amtrak, NJ Transit (West span) and PATH and Amtrak/NJ Transit (East span) |
| Crosses | Passaic River |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | pair of through-truss vertical lift bridges |
| Clearance below | 24 ft (7.32 m) (closed) 135 ft (41.15 m) (open) |
The Dock Bridge is actually two special bridges that cross the Passaic River in Newark and Harrison, New Jersey. These bridges are only for trains! They are called vertical lift bridges because a part of them can move up and down. This allows boats to pass underneath.
The Dock Bridge is the seventh bridge from the river's mouth at Newark Bay. It is about 5 miles (8 km) upstream from the bay. Trains from Amtrak, NJ Transit, and PATH all use these bridges. Because of its importance, the Dock Bridge is listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical structure!
History of the Dock Bridge
The Dock Bridge was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) for their main train line. The first part of the bridge, the west span, opened in 1935. It has three tracks for trains. When it was built, its lift span was the longest three-track lift span in the world! It stretched about 230 feet (70 meters) over the river.
The second part of the bridge, the east span, opened in 1937. This is when the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M), which is now called PATH, started using it. Before this, PATH trains used a different bridge. When the east span opened, a train station called Manhattan Transfer closed. This station was where steam and electric trains would switch, and passengers could change trains to go to New York City.
How the Dock Bridge Works
The Dock Bridge has two main sections, or spans. The west span has three tracks. These tracks are used only by Amtrak and NJ Transit trains. They carry passengers between Newark and New York City on the busy Northeast Corridor.
The east span has three tracks too. Two of these tracks are used by PATH trains for their service to the World Trade Center. The third track on the east span is shared by Amtrak and NJ Transit. Because PATH trains use the Dock Bridge, the PATH system is considered a "commuter railroad." This means it follows rules set by the Federal Railroad Administration.
The Passaic River is about 90 miles (145 km) long. The lower 17 miles (27 km) of the river are affected by tides and can be used by boats. When the Dock Bridge is closed, there is about 24 feet (7.3 meters) of space for boats to pass under. When the bridge opens, it lifts to create 135 feet (41 meters) of space!
The bridge does not lift very often. Before 2014, it hadn't been asked to open for a boat since 2004. Now, if a boat needs the bridge to open, they have to give 24 hours' notice. However, during a project to remove dirt from the Passaic River, the bridge might need to open up to 10 times a day. In 2020, Amtrak asked for the bridge to stay closed until it can be repaired.
