BERGEN COUNTY CELEBRATES REOPENING OF PASSAIC AVENUE BRIDGE IN LODI
LODI, NJ – On Friday, August 22, 2025, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, members of the Bergen County Board of Commissioners, and Lodi Mayor Scott Luna cut the ribbon to celebrate the reopening of the new Passaic Avenue Bridge over the Saddle River.
The moment carried historic significance: the original Passaic Avenue Bridge first opened in 1903, when Theodore Roosevelt was president. Now, more than a century later, under the leadership of County Executive Tedesco, the bridge has been fully rebuilt and reopened to serve the people of Lodi and Bergen County for generations to come.
The old bridge carried nearly 9,800 vehicles per day, but its narrow width, weight restrictions, and outdated design no longer met the needs of modern traffic. Over its long life, the bridge endured major floods, including a six-and-a-half-foot overtop by the Saddle River in 1913, and received significant repairs in 1939 and 1971. Despite those efforts, by the 2020s it was clear the bridge had reached the end of its useful life.
The new $3.8 million bridge, built by Marbro, Inc., is a 76-foot steel girder span with a reinforced concrete deck, wider 12-foot travel lanes, shoulders, and ADA-compliant sidewalks on both sides. Supported by modern “H-pile” foundations and designed with an increased hydraulic profile, the bridge will improve safety, traffic flow, and resilience against flooding.
“Today, we not only reopened a bridge—we restored a critical connection for the people of Lodi and for the thousands of drivers who depend on it every day,” said County Executive Jim Tedesco. “After more than a century of service, this crossing has been renewed, and it will serve our residents safely and reliably for decades to come.”
Mayor Scott Luna said, “The reopening of the Passaic Avenue Bridge is a milestone for Lodi. This bridge is more than infrastructure—it’s a gateway into our community. Replacing it ensures our residents, businesses, and visitors have a safe and reliable crossing for generations to come.”
Commissioner Steve Tanelli added, “Investments like this are exactly why county government matters. By leveraging state and county resources, we delivered a project that not only meets modern standards but also honors the history of a bridge that served this community for more than 120 years. This is government working for the people in a very tangible way.”
District 38 Legislators, Senator Joseph Lagana, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, and Assemblyman Chris Tully, who helped secure state funding for the project, said, “This bridge is proof of what can be accomplished when state and county officials work together. By delivering critical infrastructure dollars through the Local Bridge Program, we’ve made sure Lodi and Bergen County families have a safe and modern crossing that will serve the community well into the future.”
The project was funded in large part through the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Program, which contributed $3.2 million of the total cost. With demolition and reconstruction complete, the Passaic Avenue Bridge is now fully open to motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.