Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link Extension

Conti helped link historic and modern downtown Newark, enabling the city to continue to set the standard for urban transformation.

A significant part of the redevelopment of downtown Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, was the Newark-Elizabeth Rail Link (NERL) extension project. This high-volume urban commuter light rail connects the newly upgraded Penn Station with the historic Broad Street Station on the Morris and Essex line to serve a new Performing Arts Center, Bear’s Baseball Stadium and Washington Park.

Conti was the general contractor for the project, constructing three miles of embedded track work with catenary structures for power traction, new signal systems and five new station stops. The team performed a complex scope of work, including excavation requiring temporary retaining structures, at-grade site improvements, retaining walls, underground tunnel work, rail bridges, roadway work, structural and architectural work, concrete pouring and asphalt paving.

The team was responsive and flexible to the needs of the project. For example, when the State Historical Preservation Office saw one of the rail bridges held historic significance, the team rehabilitated it instead of constructing a new bridge. Repairs were more significant than anticipated by the client, so Conti set up a drill punch metal fabrication area on site so panels were expedited and schedule was maintained.

Conti completed the project on an aggressive schedule working in a bustling urban environment over 10 major roads and next to very active highways. Conti coordinated tie-ins to live rail tracks, working around the clock to minimize track closures. The team kept in constant communication with local businesses in order to sequence work to meet stakeholder needs.