What alternatives did the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) consider?
The range of preliminary alternatives identified in the Scoping Document included a combination of rehabilitation bridge options; replacement bridge options; or reasonable alternatives that were identified by the public during the scoping process for the DEIS. The DEIS will evaluated a “No Action” alternative, which considers what future conditions in the Northeast Corridor might be if no project is undertaken to rehabilitate or replace the Portal Bridge in addition to four build alternatives. All four alternatives included the construction of a new three-track fixed bridge north of the current Portal Bridge. The build alternatives varied on two design components: a southern bridge constructed on the existing or a new southern alignment; and a duck-under or fly-over track configuration west of the Hackensack River.
