It is the 13th bridge from the river's mouth at Newark Bay and is 6.5 miles (10.5 km) upstream from it.

[2] Rail service across the river was generally oriented to bringing passengers and freight from the points west over the Hackensack Meadows to Bergen Hill, where tunnels and cuts provided access to rail terminals on the Hudson River.

The NX is the third bridge to cross the river at its location, the first having been built in 1871.

The bridge is located within the North Jersey Shared Assets Area and is assigned to Norfolk Southern Railway.

On the west bank of the Passaic River, the Newark Industrial Track is still an active freight line serving several industries in the Newark area.