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New Jersey has been the lucky recipient of millions of dollars in federal infrastructure grants, which is good news for the state’s economy and for skilled construction workers, who are guaranteed at least a decade of steady work. However, these major transportation and power projects put workers into hazardous situations that could lead to serious injuries or fatal accidents.
If you were injured in a New Jersey construction site accident, you might be entitled to seek more than just workers’ compensation benefits. If negligence on the part of a third-party contractor on the job caused the accident that left you injured, you need to talk to Hofmann & Schweitzer about your right to sue for damages.
Major New Jersey Construction Projects on the Horizon
Several enormous projects with national significance are getting underway in New Jersey. There is a lot of pressure to get these infrastructure projects completed on time, and that pressure could lead to hazardous worksites. In addition, each project presents its own unique risks of accidental injury and dangerous exposures.
Hudson River Rail Tunnel Project
Considered to be the most urgent infrastructure project in the country, the new subaqueous Hudson River rail tunnel and the rehabilitation of the existing North River rail tunnel will provide work for skilled tradesmen through 2038. Work has already begun on the concrete casings at Hudson Yards, where the new tunnel will connect to Manhattan. Once the project is fully underway, crews are expected to be working around the clock. Odd work shifts, subterranean work, and the use of heavy equipment will make this work harrowing and dangerous for construction crews.
Portal North Bridge Project
Along with the Hudson River tunnel project, the new Portal North Bridge is also a part of the Gateway Program to improve rail infrastructure between Newark and Penn Station along the Northeast Corridor. The existing swing bridge over the Hackensack River was built in 1910 and has frequent issues with getting stuck open or closed. The new bridge is a highly anticipated and much-needed improvement that is expected to be completed in 2028 or 2029. Groundbreaking for the project finally took place in August of 2023.
Bridge projects create hazardous conditions for workers and are extremely dangerous. With the added pressure of on-time completion and a general shortage of skilled workers, tradespeople on this project are at high risk of suffering a serious injury.
Ongoing and Forthcoming New Jersey Wind Power Projects
The New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek has been an active construction site since late 2021. Phase I has a projected completion date of early 2024, and Phase II should be fully operational by 2027. This site will serve as a manufacturing and marshalling facility for the construction of offshore wind turbines. Activity on the site has included dredging a channel to the Delaware River for vessels, constructing delivery and installation berths, and building land transportation corridors to allow for the delivery of wind turbine components.
The Ørsted energy company plans to start construction of the first phase of its wind farm in the fall of 2023, and Atlantic Offshore Wind LLC has signed a letter of intent to lease acreage at the New Jersey Wind Port to begin construction of their offshore wind project off the New Jersey Coast.
These projects will create hundreds of high-quality, long-term construction jobs, which is great for New Jersey. However, offshore work is extremely hazardous and requires that all parties involved adhere to strict safety regulations. When a worker is injured because of someone’s negligence, they might be entitled to more than just New Jersey workers’ compensation.
Common Injuries Sustained in Large-Scale Construction Projects
Skilled construction workers on tunnel, bridge, and offshore projects understand the risks of the job they do. However, what they should not have to accept is being put in unnecessarily dangerous situations because a contractor on the site is rushed, understaffed, or in violation of safety regulations. Our construction accident legal team can help when negligence causes a worker to suffer an injury, such as the following:
- Falls
- Struck by object injuries
- Crush injuries
- Electrical shock
- Respiratory issues
- Burns
- Heat stress and dehydration
- Hearing damage
- Confined space injuries
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Vehicle accidents
- Chemical exposure
- Cuts and abrasions
- Eye injuries and vision loss
- Drowning or submersion injuries
