Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday touted new infrastructure projects that will improve access to the Port of New York and New Jersey in Newark.

The projects include replacing the Route 22 Bridge in Union Township, replacing the Wittpenn Bridge that connects Jersey City and Kearny, and resurfacing Route 27 in Newark.

Murphy said that increased business around the port will help with the state’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Together these projects will mean that cargo can get to and from here faster and more easily and making New Jersey an even bigger draw for shipping so we can remain as one of the nation's most important ports,” the governor said. “And they will be a part of the stronger and more modern infrastructure that will fuel our state's economic recovery and resiliency - not just as we work toward the end of the pandemic, but for decades to come."

The Port of New York and New Jersey was the second-busiest port in the nation in 2019, behind Los Angeles. As of September, traffic was down just 4% because of the virus.