A freight train with double-stacked containers struck a rail bridge in Jersey City Thursday morning, causing the closure of a busy roadway.
The extent of the damage to the rail bridge at Baldwin Avenue between Magnolia Avenue and High Street was not immediately known, Jersey City Office of Emergency Management Director Greg Kierce said.
A crumpled container that did not clear the overpass could be seen from the roadway after the incident that occurred at approximately 10 a.m. The rail line is believed to be used by both Conrail and CSX.
A spokesman for CSX confirmed an intermodal container on a CSX train struck the bridge and noted that no injuries were reported and there was no derailment. CSX would only describe the contents of the container as “non-hazardous” and said the cause of the crash is under investigation.
“CSX personnel are cooperating with the Jersey City Fire Department, who are investigating this incident,” the spokesman said.
Aside from the structural integrity of the bridge, Jersey City officials are concerned that a 20-inch water main that runs under the bridge may have been damaged. A crew from the city’s Municipal Utilities Authority was expected to inspect the main Thursday.
Kierce said the state Department of Transportation was notified because the bridge is state property.
The OEM director said he is unaware what’s inside the crumpled container, but it appears that nothing leaked or spilled.
“Right now it appears that traffic is going to be the No. 1 problem,” Kierce said. “We are erring on the side of caution until people can come in and check the bridge.”
