The Delaware River Bridge — an essential link between the New Jersey and Pennsylvania turnpikes — is set for replacement after 70 years in service.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is investing $600 million to fully rebuild the bridge carrying Interstate 95 between Bucks County, Pa., and Burlington County, N.J., targeting congestion along one of the East Coast’s busiest corridors, according to a press release.
The project is as part of the broader PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange Program, according to a joint statement from Pennsylvania Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, which aims to improve traffic flow along the East Coast and reduce congestion on local roadways in Bucks County, the project website states.
With more than 67,000 daily travelers — about 16% of which is freight — the current four-lane bridge no longer meets demand, the senators’ press release states. The replacement structure will be widened to better align with approaching highways and accommodate future traffic growth.
In addition to increasing capacity, the project will incorporate resiliency measures designed to strengthen the bridge during high water events by reducing obstructions in the river, according to USDOT’s press release.
Project teams are also evaluating alternative designs and alignments, with preliminary design work expected to continue through 2027, according to WHYY-FM.
Pennsylvania ranked second in the nation in 2024 for structurally deficient bridges by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, WHYY-FM reported. The Delaware River Bridge itself was closed for more than six weeks in 2017 due to a fracture in one of its support trusses.
Sources: USDOT, Joint Statement from Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, WHYY-FM, PA Turnpike
