(Save thedate: RealShareNew Jersey comes to the Hyatt Regency, NewBrunswick, NJ, September 19.)

BAYONNE, NJ–The Port Authority of New York & NewJersey officials are now promising that the deck-removalportion of the $1-billion project to raise the Bayonne Bridge willbe done by fall of 2015 when the first super-size ships startbringing goods from Asia through the widened Panama Canal.

Port Authority Chairman David Samson said theagency has shaved six months off the projected completion date forthe project, which has not yet begun except for lead paint removalon the existing structure. Also, the Panama Canal Authority haspushed back the completion date for the widening due toconstruction delays, he said. “Competition is fierce among all theports on the East Coast,” Samson said. “All of them are racing toprepare themselves for the widening of the canal. That’s why it’simportant for us to get this job done.”