After weeks of disrupted travel and extra transfers, some New Jersey commuters are finally seeing their routines return to normal.

Direct service into New York Penn Station has resumed on several lines operated by NJ Transit following construction tied to the new Portal North Bridge.

For much of the past month, weekday Midtown Direct trains were diverted to Hoboken Terminal instead of continuing into Penn Station.

The change was necessary so crews could carry out critical work connected to the new bridge project over the Hackensack River.

That meant thousands of riders on the Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines had to finish their commute with extra transfers — hopping on PATH trains, buses, or ferries to reach Manhattan.

News 12 New Jersey tested the commute during the disruption. Some routes proved faster than others, but most riders had to add time and adjust their routines.

The work is part of a major effort to replace the century-old Portal Bridge — a well-known bottleneck on the Northeast Corridor that has long caused delays when it malfunctions or fails to close properly after opening for boat traffic.

Officials say the new fixed-span bridge will improve reliability and reduce delays for the thousands of trains that travel the corridor each year.

The restoration of direct Midtown service also came earlier than expected. According to NJ Transit, trains began running into Penn Station again on Friday — two days ahead of schedule — after overhead wire issues developed on the old bridge.

The bridge replacement is a key part of the larger Gateway Program, a multibillion-dollar effort largely funded by the federal government to expand capacity and improve reliability along the nation’s busiest passenger rail corridor.

For commuters, the return of a one-seat ride into Manhattan is a welcome relief.

During a recent morning commute from Maplewood, New Jersey, the trip to Penn Station took less than 50 minutes with only a few stops along the way and a smooth ride compared with the extra transfers riders faced just weeks ago.

Still, the changes may not be over yet.

NJ Transit officials say another phase of construction is expected this fall, which could bring additional service adjustments, delays or cancellations for riders.

For now, though, commuters are enjoying the return of their direct trip into the city, even if it’s only temporary.