PATH Lift Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PATH Lift Bridge |
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PATH Lift Bridge
(Harsimus Branch and Wittpenn Bridge at right) |
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| Coordinates | 40°44′24″N 74°04′59″W / 40.740108°N 74.083048°W |
| Carries | PATH |
| Crosses | Hackensack River |
| Locale | Connecting Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey |
| Owner | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Lift bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| History | |
| Opened | 1900 |
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The PATH Lift Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a lift bridge. It carries the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) train line. This bridge crosses the Hackensack River in New Jersey.
It connects the towns of Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey. PATH trains use this bridge to travel to and from Newark.
Contents
History of the PATH Lift Bridge
Building the Bridge in 1900
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) built this bridge in the year 1900. It was first used as part of their main train line. This line ended at a station called Exchange Place in Jersey City.
New Tunnels and Train Lines
In 1910, the PRR opened new tunnels under the North River. These tunnels went to Manhattan's Penn Station. Because of these new tunnels, the main train traffic changed routes.
The tracks leading to Exchange Place were then used by another train system. This system was called the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M). The H&M was a rapid transit line, like a subway. It connected New Jersey to lower Manhattan. Later, the H&M became known as PATH.
PATH Takes Over the Bridge
On October 1, 1911, the H&M started a new train service. It ran between Harrison, New Jersey, and lower Manhattan. This service was later extended further south to Newark.
The Pennsylvania Railroad and the H&M shared the bridge for many years. But in 1961, the PRR closed its Exchange Place station. Since then, only H&M trains, and later PATH trains, have used the bridge. Today, it is part of the Newark–World Trade Center PATH line.
