Kill Van Kull

40°38′38″N 74°07′12″W / 40.644°N 74.120°W / 40.644; -74.120

Map of New York Harbor showing the location of the Kill Van Kull

The Kill Van Kull is a tidal strait between Staten Island, New York, and Bayonne, New Jersey, in the United States. It is approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) long and 1,000 feet (305 m) wide and connects Newark Bay with Upper New York Bay.^[1] The Robbins Reef Light is at the eastern end of the Kill, and Bergen Point marks its western end. It is spanned by the Bayonne Bridge and is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the Port of New York and New Jersey.

Historically, it has been one of the most important channels for the commerce of the region, providing a passage for marine traffic between Upper New York Bay and the industrial towns of northeastern New Jersey. During the colonial era, it played a significant role in travel between New York and the southern colonies, with passengers changing from ferries to coaches at Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth).

Since the final third of the 20th century, it has provided the principal access for oceangoing container ships to Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, the busiest port facility in the eastern United States, and Howland Hook Marine Terminal. The strait has required continued dredging and deepening to accommodate the passage of ever-larger ships. In many areas, the sandy bottom was excavated down to rock and required blasting.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] The Bayonne Bridge's deck was raised in 2017 so that New Panamax ships could travel the Kill Van Kull.^[6]

Collins Park in Bayonne is situated along the northern shore.

^ Hudson County New Jersey Street Map. Hagstrom Map Company, Inc. 2008. ISBN 978-0-88097-763-0.
^ Ports and waterways safety: Kill Van Kull Channel et al., NY and NJ, Federal Register, April 15, 1999 (Nbr. Vol. 64, No. 72)
^ Nadler: Kill Van Kull Fiasco Shows Red Hook’s Importance Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Congressional Press Release
^ Kill Van Kull & Newark Bay Channel Deepening Archived July 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 30. April 1999
^ Corps Announces Start of Test Blasting Work for Kill Van Kull 50 Foot Deepening Archived November 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, U. S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Media Advisory, August 1, 2005
^ Shawn Boburg. $1B Bayonne Bridge Renovation Six Months Ahead of Schedule, Bergen County Record, July 19, 2012.

[1] Hudson County New Jersey Street Map. Hagstrom Map Company, Inc. 2008. ISBN 978-0-88097-763-0.

[2] Ports and waterways safety: Kill Van Kull Channel et al., NY and NJ, Federal Register, April 15, 1999 (Nbr. Vol. 64, No. 72)

[3] Nadler: Kill Van Kull Fiasco Shows Red Hook’s Importance Archived October 9, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Congressional Press Release

[4] Kill Van Kull & Newark Bay Channel Deepening Archived July 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, 30. April 1999

[5] Corps Announces Start of Test Blasting Work for Kill Van Kull 50 Foot Deepening Archived November 29, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, U. S. Army Corps Of Engineers, Media Advisory, August 1, 2005

[6] Shawn Boburg. $1B Bayonne Bridge Renovation Six Months Ahead of Schedule, Bergen County Record, July 19, 2012.

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