Port of Paulsboro

A 2010 New Jersey Department of Transportation report anticipated increased freight activity in South Jersey.^[8] New infrastructure at the Port of Paulsboro includes the construction of a rail crossing, turnouts, and 11,000 feet (3,400 m) of track with a link to the Penns Grove Secondary and a balloon loop for dockside accessibility. It is expected to cost $3.2 million and be completed by 2014. Partial federal funding for this work was obtained in 2011 by South Jersey Port Corporation, Conrail, and Salem County by leveraging $117.65 million of infrastructure funding for the marine terminal and other South Jersey projects.^[9][10]

Jefferson Street Bridge

The Jefferson Street Bridge, or the Paulsboro Draw, is a railroad movable bridge over Mantua Creek 1.3 miles (2.1 km) upstream from its mouth.^[11][12][13] The 160-foot (49 m)^[14] "A-Frame", shear pole, swing bridge was originally constructed in 1917^[2] and rebuilt in 1940. Once part of Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL),^[15] it is now part of Conrail's Penns Grove Secondary. Originally manually opened, it was partially automated sometime between 2000 and 2003.^[2][16]

Buckling of the bridge caused a derailment of a coal train in 2009. More than 15 rail cars left the tracks, though none toppled.^[17] In November 2012, seven cars derailed while crossing the bridge. Of the four cars that fell into the creek, one was punctured, releasing 23,000 US gallons (87 m³; 19,000 imp gal) of highly toxic vinyl chloride,^[18][19][20] which required an evacuation in the region and Paulsboro school lock-downs.^[21] Removal of derailed cars and environmental cleanup was handled by U.S. Coast Guard.^[22]

In March 2013, Conrail announced that the bridge would be replaced with an expected September 2014 operational date. Normally, between March 1 and November 30 the bridge is left in the open position for maritime traffic and closed when trains approach.^[2] It will remain locked in the closed position until the bridge is replaced.^[14][23] A 2014 court ruling allowed Conrail to demolish the structure.^[24] It was replaced with a vertical-lift bridge,^[25][26][11] which opened in March 2015.^[27] and is operated remotely.^[28]

Numerous lawsuits had been brought in the matter.^{[29][30][31][32]}