Why does New Jersey need the Turnpike Extension? Lets count the ways | Opinion [Video]

By Pat Kelleher

In the 1950s, the post-war economy was in full swing, spurring the development of some of New Jersey’s most relied-upon transportation infrastructure with much of this work performed by union labor. However, no structure can last forever, and many of them are reaching the end of their life and must be replaced.

And now, labor is ready to do our part again to replace our aging infrastructure to keep it safe for New Jersey families and workers.

The NJ Turnpike Authority is undertaking a historic modernization program to rebuild the Newark Bay-Hudson County Extension – that’s 8.1 miles of transportation infrastructure from Interchange 14 in Newark to Jersey Avenue in Jersey City. The extension consists of 29 bridges that are nearly 70 years old, which along with roadways and ramps, will be replaced with safe, resilient, and sustainable structures.

The first stage is the reconstruction between Interchanges 14 and 14A, in Bayonne and Jersey City. That project includes the Newark …