Upper Bay Bridge

Spanning the waters of Newark Bay, the Upper Bay Bridge stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity. This vertical lift bridge, also known as the Lehigh Valley Railroad Bridge, isn’t just a steel giant; it’s a vital artery in the North Jersey Shared Assets Area. The Upper Bay Bridge carries CSX Transportation trains along the National Docks Secondary line. It runs parallel to the New Jersey Turnpike’s Newark Bay Bridge, almost like a steel reflection. One of the most interesting trains that uses this bridge is the “Juice Train” which begins its journey all the way down in Florida, bringing its cargo north. The western side of the Upper Bay Bridge sits near Oak Island Yard. It’s a bustling industrial area, north of Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal and Newark International Airport. On the eastern side, the bridge connects to Bayonne. From there, rail lines stretch eastward across Bergen Hill towards Port Jersey, Greenville Yards, and Constable Hook. These locations, along the shores of Upper New York Bay and Kill Van Kull, are hubs of maritime activity. A car float, operated by New York New Jersey Rail, connects to Bush Terminal Yard at the old Bush Terminal. The story of the Upper Bay Bridge begins in 1893. It started as part of the Jersey City, Newark and Western Railway, later absorbed by the Lehigh Valley Terminal Railway. The Pennsylvania Railroad also used this bridge. They used it to reach their Greenville Yard on Upper New York Bay. The original bridge was a wooden trestle. Sadly, it met a fiery end in 1913. Remarkably, it was rebuilt in just twelve days, a feat of engineering that impressed many at the time. The current Upper Bay Bridge, the one we see today, was constructed between 1928 and 1930. It is the last remaining rail bridge crossing the bay at its northern end near Kearny Point. Other rail bridges, like the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge and the Newark and New York Railroad Bridge, are now gone. The Upper Bay Bridge remains, a silent witness to the changing industrial landscape.