HACKENSACK, NJ — Today, January 18, 2021, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) stood on the East Anderson Street Bridge in between Hackensack and Teaneck to announce that New Jersey will claw back more than $1.14 billion in investment through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to help fix structurally deficient bridges like this one, — improving commutes and safety for North Jersey residents. Gottheimer helped shape and pass the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill in 2021, along with the Problem Solvers Caucus, which he Co-Chairs, and a group of Democrats and Republicans from both the House and Senate

A third of New Jersey’s bridges are considered unsafe or structurally-deficient, including the East Anderson Street Bridge.  Construction will begin next year, after the bridge was literally narrowed to two lanes from when cracks appeared.  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will make historic investments in fixing bridges, with more than $1.14 billion invested right here to New Jersey over the next five years, just for our bridges — and this number does not even include the $8 billion of major investments in repairing roads, building the Gateway Tunnel, electric vehicle infrastructure, clean water, public transportation, and climate resilience, nor does it include investment New Jersey will be eligible for through the provisions in the bipartisan bill to support economically significant bridges. 

The East Anderson Street Bridge connects parts of Hackensack and Teaneck, and is a key juncture in the community that connects multiple centers of businesses and residences. The existing bridge is supposed to carry four lanes of car traffic and has sidewalks on both sides. But, it’s more than 50 years old and there is cracking in the support beams and on the surface, which is causing major corrosion and threatening the integrity of the bridge — so much so that one lane on each side is closed, impacting traffic flow and commutes.

“Our crumbling infrastructure is hurting our families but fixing the East Anderson Street Bridge and others like it is exactly the type of critical project the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill is going to support — all without increasing the tax burden on North Jersey residents,” said U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “This bipartisan legislation, that I was proud to have played a key role in helping pass, makes the largest investment in our bridges since the creation of our interstate highway system — a generational investment that will help us grow the economy in the long term, help create new jobs, help save our families money when they aren’t repairing their cars from potholes and overall improve the everyday lives of North Jersey.” 

“This bill will help create two million jobs a year for the next ten years by making historic investments in not just our roads and bridges, but also in our public transit, broadband access, climate resiliency, electric vehicle infrastructure, water systems, and more. It will allow us to build infrastructure across America that is ready for the 21st century all while helping to grow our economy,” added Gottheimer. 

Work on the East Anderson Street Bridge is slated to begin in 2023 and the project will cost approximately $40 million. 

Gottheimer was joined today by Bergen County Commissioner and IBEW #164 President Tom Sullivan, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz, Teaneck Mayor James Dunleavy, MD; Teaneck Deputy Mayor Mark Schartz, Teaneck Councilwoman Karen Orgen, Teaneck Councilman Keith Kaplan, Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council President Michael Schneider, IUOE Business Representative Cesar Gamio, and members of Bergen County Building Trades. 

Watch today’s announcement here.

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