Editing Goethals Bridge (section)

==New bridge==
[[Image:Goethals bridge concept.png|thumb|upright=1.1|left|A 2007 [[3D computer graphics|3D rendering]] of one proposed replacement bridge]]
[[Image:Goethals replacement diagram.png|thumb|upright=1.1|left|A diagram comparing the four replacement alternatives and their position relative to the old bridge]]
The initial alternatives put forth in mid-2006 included the option of twin three-lane replacement bridges north and south of the original alignment, which was eliminated; and twin three-lane replacement bridges (one south, and one along the original alignment), with the latter being built after the demolition of the original bridge, which was refined to be a single-span bridge instead of twin bridges. The twin-bridge alternative was dropped because of a height restriction set up by the [[FAA]] to prevent interferences with flights at [[Newark Liberty International Airport]]. The Goethals Bridge towers were not to exceed 272 feet in height and required to slant outwards because of aircraft flight patterns. This would also prevent ice from falling onto the roadway during winter months.<ref name="Engineering News-Record">{{cite web |last1=Stabile |first1=Tom |date=September 27, 2018 |title=Goethals Bridge: ENR New York's Project of the Year |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/45224-goethals-bridge-enr-new-yorks-project-of-the-year |website=www.enr.com |publisher=Engineering News-Record |access-date=28 September 2020 |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923115030/https://www.enr.com/articles/45224-goethals-bridge-enr-new-yorks-project-of-the-year |url-status=live }}</ref> Public [[Open house (common school event)|open houses]] were held in Staten Island and [[Elizabeth, New Jersey|Elizabeth]], and the Draft [[Environmental Impact Statement]] (DEIS) was issued. Formal public hearings on the DEIS were held in July 2009.<ref name="EIS Overview">{{cite web |url=https://www.goethalseis.com/overview/deis_published.aspx |title=Draft EIS Published |access-date=December 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207034453/https://www.goethalseis.com/overview/deis_published.aspx |archive-date=December 7, 2012}}</ref>

All alternatives proposed that the bridge be single level, cable-stayed, double spans, separated by towers with a height of {{convert|135|ft|m}} above the [[Ordinary high water mark|high-water mark]] of the [[Arthur Kill]] shipping channel. The {{cvt|900|ft|m}} main span<ref name="Engineering News-Record"/> of each bridge holds three {{cvt|12|ft|m}} lanes with a {{cvt|12|ft|m}} outer shoulder and {{cvt|5|ft|m}} inner shoulder. The westbound span features a new {{cvt|10|ft|m}} walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, permanent access roads would be built under the bridge on land for maintenance, security, and construction purposes.<ref name="fallnews">{{cite web |url=https://www.goethalseis.com/overview/pdf/newsletter_fall07.pdf |title=Refinement of Alternatives for EIS Analysis |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=December 24, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224225008/https://www.goethalseis.com/overview/pdf/newsletter_fall07.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lastly, space would be left in between the two bridges to accommodate potential mass-transit services.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.panynj.gov/goethalsbridge/ |title=Goethals Bridge Replacement |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=December 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202215841/https://www.panynj.gov/goethalsbridge/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url=https://www.silive.com/news/2017/06/5_facts_you_need_to_know_about_1.html |title=5 facts you need to know about the new Goethals Bridge |last=Lore |first=Diane C. |date=June 10, 2017 |work=Staten Island Advance |access-date=October 5, 2017 |language=en-US |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005203308/https://www.silive.com/news/2017/06/5_facts_you_need_to_know_about_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> For mass transit, studies indicated that a bus-only lane was not economically viable but that a [[high-occupancy vehicle lane]] open to buses as well as high-occupancy autos would be appropriate during rush hours if traffic supported it. Provision for rail transit was rejected; however, planners decided that whatever alternative was constructed, the design and structural integrity should ideally be able to be retrofitted for such at a later date. The suggestion for a freight rail connection was dismissed as uneconomical.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A10106&term=2017&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%2526nbspVotes=Y&Floor%2526nbspVotes=Y |title=New York State Assembly {{!}} Bill Search and Legislative Information |website=assembly.state.ny.us |access-date=2020-04-11 |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324035746/https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A10106&term=2017&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%2526nbspVotes=Y&Floor%2526nbspVotes=Y |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Goethals Bridge 04 - New bridge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|From the new eastbound bridge, looking westward]]

Also as part of the construction, improvements to approaches and nearby interchanges were made. These include the [[New Jersey Turnpike]] exit 13 toll plaza, the Staten Island toll plaza, and the [[Interstate 278]]/[[New York State Route 440|NY 440]] interchange. In addition, while separate from the bridge replacement project, the [[New Jersey Department of Transportation]] may construct full movements at the [[Interstate 278]]/[[U.S. Route 1/9]] junction to coincide with the bridge's replacement.<ref name="interchange project">{{cite web |title=Goethals Bridge Interchange Ramps – "Missing Links" |url=http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/goethals-bridge-missing-links.html |website=The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey: Bridges and Tunnels |publisher=The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey |access-date=April 27, 2017 |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425131027/http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/goethals-bridge-missing-links.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On April 24, 2013, the Port Authority approved the $1.5-billion Goethals Bridge Project<ref name="Engineering News-Record"/> for preliminary funding, and broke ground in May 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.silive.com/specialreports/index.ssf/2014/06/staten_island_developments_map.html |title=An interactive map of planned developments in the next decade |date=June 2, 2014 |access-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612145134/https://www.silive.com/specialreports/index.ssf/2014/06/staten_island_developments_map.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The old bridge was closed on June 9, 2017, with eastbound traffic using the new eastbound bridge starting on June 10<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nypost.com/2017/06/11/first-span-of-new-goethals-bridge-opens/ |title=First span of new Goethals Bridge opens |last=Fugallo |first=Nick |date=June 11, 2017 |website=New York Post |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612122143/http://nypost.com/2017/06/11/first-span-of-new-goethals-bridge-opens/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and westbound traffic opening the next day.<ref name="Porpora 2017">{{cite web |last=Porpora |first=Tracey |title=Goethals Bridge now open in both directions |website=SILive.com |date=June 11, 2017 |url=http://www.silive.com/news/2017/06/goethals_bridge_now_open_in_bo.html |access-date=June 12, 2017 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611201020/http://www.silive.com/news/2017/06/goethals_bridge_now_open_in_bo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially, the new eastbound span carried 2 lanes of traffic in each direction, with each lane 11 feet wide until the new westbound span was complete. Once completed, the new westbound span restored pedestrian and bicycle access.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.gov/transportation/commuter/bike/bridges.shtm |title=Bridges and Tunnels |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=November 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101221046/http://www.nj.gov/transportation/commuter/bike/bridges.shtm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /> Westbound traffic was shifted from the new eastbound span to the newly opened westbound span on May 21, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.silive.com/news/2018/05/new_goethals_bridge_open_for_n.html |title=First a.m. rush hour for new Goethals Bridge to New Jersey |last=Grunlund |first=Maura |date=2018-05-21 |work=SILive.com |access-date=2018-05-21 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522054451/http://www.silive.com/news/2018/05/new_goethals_bridge_open_for_n.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/05/21/new-goethals-bridge-westbound-span-now-open/ |title=New Goethals Bridge Westbound Span Now Open |date=May 21, 2018 |website=CBS New York |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112349/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/05/21/new-goethals-bridge-westbound-span-now-open/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The bikeway and pedestrian walkway was set to open by mid-2018<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silive.com/news/2018/05/goethals_bridge_walkwaybikeway.html |title=Goethals Bridge walkway/bikeway to open by end of summer |last=Bascome |first=Erik |date=May 21, 2018 |website=SILive.com |access-date=May 21, 2018 |archive-date=May 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522113646/http://www.silive.com/news/2018/05/goethals_bridge_walkwaybikeway.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but was then pushed back to an undetermined date.<ref>{{cite web |last=Strunsky |first=Steve |title=or bike - to Staten Island |website=nj.com |date=November 10, 2018 |url=https://www.nj.com/union/2018/11/new_goethals_bridge_bike_walkway.html |access-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530142108/https://www.nj.com/union/2018/11/new_goethals_bridge_bike_walkway.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The bike path and pedestrian walkway finally opened on March 4, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bascome |first=Erik |title=First Staten Islander bikes across Goethals Bridge as shared-use path opens |website=silive |date=March 4, 2020 |url=https://www.silive.com/news/2020/03/first-staten-islander-bikes-across-goethals-bridge-as-shared-use-path-opens.html |access-date=March 5, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022033310/https://www.silive.com/news/2020/03/first-staten-islander-bikes-across-goethals-bridge-as-shared-use-path-opens.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Goethals Bridge Replacement Project was given several prestigious awards upon its completion. In the highway/bridge category, the project won an ENR New York Best Projects and the Excellence in safety award, and it received the ENR New York's Project of the Year for 2018.<ref name="Engineering News-Record"/>