BergerWorld: 2nd Quarter 2008

The Goethals Bridge spans the tidal Arthur Kill, providing a direct connection between Staten Island, New York, and Elizabeth, New Jersey, and serving as a crucial link in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area's regional highway network. One of two Staten Island bridges completed and opened to traffic in 1928, the 7,109-foot-long Goethals Bridge was originally designed for narrower vehicles and substantially less traffic. Since its construction, the Berger Group has undertaken a number of technical and environmental assignments at the famed bridge in support of modernizing and enhancing the existing structure's capacity. However, the existing four-lane bridge continues to be constrained by substandard lane widths, a lack of emergency shoulders and escalating repair and maintenance costs. In response, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) proposed a replacement of the structure with a new six-lane bridge with wider travel lanes, emergency shoulders, a sidewalk/bikeway and a central area between the eastbound and westbound decks with sufficient width to accommodate potential future transit service. The Berger Group, as managing partner of a joint venture, was selected by PANYNJ to prepare a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the replacement.

A total of four build alternatives, each with a slightly different alignment, as well as a no-build alternative, have been advanced for detailed analysis in the EIS: a single six-lane bridge south of the current alignment, a single six-lane bridge north of the current alignment, a single six-lane bridge with one half north of the current alignment and the second half along the current alignment and a single six-lane bridge with one half south of the current alignment and the second half along the current alignment. In all four build cases, the existing bridge would be demolished. The environmental issues and impacts are alternative dependent and include filling parts of the Old Place Creek tidal wetlands in Staten Island; potentially relocating residences in Elizabeth; potential property takings at several known or suspected contaminated sites; identifying direct impacts to the National Register-eligible Goethals Bridge and visual impacts to other historic properties; and the potential displacement of several businesses.

A key element of the EIS process has been the implementation of an ambitious proactive and continuous public participation program. An extensive coordination program with regulatory and review agencies has also been developed, including the formation of a technical advisory committee to address traffic/transportation, air quality and noise issues; a task force to address other environmental issues; and a stakeholder committee.

In addition to preparing the EIS, Berger is also responsible for identifying and preparing state and federal environmental permit applications. The Draft EIS is currently scheduled to be circulated to the public for review in late 2008.