Amtrak says track work in New Jersey will lead to minor delays for the next five months on the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor.

Spokeswoman Karina Romero says concrete ties used to support the rails are being replaced on about a 20-mile stretch between Newark and Metuchen. As a result, only three of the four tracks will be available at any one time from April 20 through September.

Romero said the effect on travel times will be minimal, with delays of about five minutes or less.

The Northeast Corridor is home to Amtrak’s only high-speed service, the Acela Express. Northeast Regional trains also will be affected along with portions of the Keystone, Pennsylvanian and Vermonter lines.

Amtrak says the track work is needed to replace defective ties purchased in the 1990s that have begun to crack.

(Source: AP)