Delaware River Bridge

A re-evaluation is used to assess whether the ROD remains valid in light of new circumstances, updated regulations, and/or the passage of time. To date, the PA Turnpike had been utilizing re-evaluations to advance the other stages of the project within the 2003 Selected Alternative. However, due to the 2005 designation of the Delaware River Bridge as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and the 2017 fracture repair and comprehensive bridge safety inspection, in addition to the passage of time since the issuance of the ROD, the Federal Highway Administration directed the PA Turnpike and NJTA to prepare a SEIS. 

No, the FHWA is not required to select the selected alternative identified in the 2003 ROD. The SEIS follows the same process and format as that of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). While it builds off the original 2003 FEIS and ROD, the SEIS for the DRB project will be prepared based on updated information and analyses, public involvement, and agency coordination. Additionally, the SEIS will consider a reasonable range of alternatives. In other words, the SEIS provides the opportunity for a ‘fresh look’ at the project. The FHWA will issue a Final SEIS and ROD that will document the rationale for the selected alternative. 

The project team is investigating potential improvements to existing trail facilities in both PA and NJ as a part of the DRB Project. The improvements will consider connections in and around the bridge. Regarding the potential for a multi-use facility on the structure itself, the 2003 Record of Decision identified the following issues that limited or restricted the incorporation of a multi-modal component on the bridge: existing state regulations, operational safety, fare collection, maintenance, environmental clearance, planning, funding and programming. These issues are currently being reviewed and evaluated.   

No. The owners do not raise tolls to fund individual projects.

Property impacts will be identified during the Final Design phase of the project after Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Clearance are complete. Final Design is currently targeted to begin in 2028.

The Team is currently re-evaluating all existing conditions in the study area. This work includes a multitude of tasks such as surveys, environmental studies, geotechnical investigations, and more. If property access is required, the property owner will be notified in advance.

 

Yes. Opportunities to provide feedback and get updates on the results of the Alternative Analysis, Preliminary Engineering, and SEIS will be provided through public meetings, stakeholder meetings, public surveys, project updates, and public hearings. Public meetings/hearings will be held in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Please Join the mailing list today or go to the Contact Us page to request a meeting in your community.

A Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) will be prepared to document the environmental review process for the DRB project and identify a Recommended Preferred Alternative. The Draft SEIS will then be made available for public review, at which point a public hearing will be held to gather feedback on the proposed project. The project team will review and address comments and prepare a Final SEIS which identifies a Preferred Alternative. The FHWA will then issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that identifies the selected alternative which is being permitted by the FHWA. The anticipated timeframe for the ROD is winter 2027/2028. 

During the PE phase, a variety of engineering activities, concurrent with the environmental activities referenced above, occur to assess alternatives. Fieldwork and investigations will occur through 2026. The majority of residential properties requiring survey will most likely be surveyed from the street side and will require minimal access to the actual property. If property access is required, the property owner will be notified in advance

Yes. The bridge undergoes a comprehensive safety inspection every two years. The inspections performed follow National Bridge Inspection Standards to ensure safe bridge operations. The U.S. Department of Transportation sets the standards and works through FHWA to implement them under the PTC’s and NJTA’s management programs.

The bridge owners use the information from the inspections to maintain and repair the bridge as necessary.

The general design in the approved 2003 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Record of Decision (ROD) was a newly constructed parallel bridge to the south of the existing bridge to accommodate eastbound traffic entering New Jersey and rehabilitation of the existing bridge to accommodate westbound traffic into Pennsylvania.

After the 2017 fracture repair and a comprehensive bridge safety inspection, and considering the age of the 2003 environmental documentation, a new Alternatives Analysis that explores a full range of alternatives was required. This Alternatives Analysis may recommend detailed studies of alternatives that do not include the selected alternative identified in the 2003 ROD.

Additionally, a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is being prepared due to substantial new information and potential effects not previously addressed in the 2003 ROD. The new information includes the factors noted above, as well as the 2005 and 2024 determination that the DRB is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.