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Hackensack River Bridges

Hackensack River Crossings

Posted on December 2, 2020December 2, 2020 by Sherman Cahal

I have been long fascinated with a collection of four lift bridges in close proximity to each other along the Hackensack River in New Jersey. The juxtaposition of the new and old, of glossy black paint and rust, and of streamlined design and complexity provide fodder for captivating photography—especially as one of the crossings is nearing the end of its serviceable life.

Below are some of my favorite images that I was able to take not long ago of these four lift bridges. In no particular order below, they are of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PATH) Bridge, Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (Lower Hack) Bridge, and Wittpenn Bridge. The four lift crossings were constructed in the late 1920s and early 1930s and replaced earlier swing spans that had been declared navigational hazards because of their low clearance above the water and narrow draw openings.

Of the four bridges from that era, the Wittpenn Bridge is the only one that is being replaced. The four-lane bridge carries NJ Route 7 over the river, but it’s long been declared functionally obsolete because of its narrow travel lanes and high accident rates. Additionally, the substructure and superstructure have major issues that rehabilitation could not cost-effectively resolve long-term.

Wittpenn Bridge
This is a view of the Jersey City approach to the new Wittpenn Bridge.
Hackensack River PATH Bridge
Wittpenn Bridge
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (Lower Hack) Bridge
Hackensack River Bridges
LEFT: Hackensack River PATH Bridge; CENTER: Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge and c. 1930 Wittpenn Bridge; RIGHT: c. 2021 Wittpenn Bridge
Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge
An aerial of the lift tower of the Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge.
Hackensack River PATH Bridge
The Hackensack River PATH Bridge is at left.
Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge and Wittpenn Bridge
TOP: Hackensack River PATH Bridge; BOTTOM: Wittpenn Bridge
Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge and Wittpenn Bridge
TOP: Wittpenn Bridge; BOTTOM: Hackensack River PATH Bridge
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (Lower Hack) Bridge
Wittpenn Bridge
Hackensack River PATH Bridge
The Hackensack River PATH Bridge is at left.
Pennsylvania Railroad (PATH) Bridge
TOP: c. 2021 Wittpenn Bridge; MIDDLE: c. 1930 Wittpenn Bridge; BOTTOM: Hackensack River PATH Bridge
Hackensack River Bridges
LEFT: Hackensack River PATH Bridge; CENTER: Pennsylvania Railroad Harsimus Branch Bridge and c. 1930 Wittpenn Bridge; RIGHT: c. 2021 Wittpenn Bridge

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