Delaware River Bridge
Stage 3 of the PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange Project
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (Authority) are currently re-evaluating rehabilitation and replacement options for the existing Delaware River Bridge (DRB). The previously selected alternative from the 2003 Record of Decision (ROD) was to build a new bridge to carry eastbound (i.e. I-95 NB to NJ) traffic and rehabilitate the existing bridge to carry westbound (i.e. I-95 SB to PA) traffic.
In 2017, a fracture of one of the existing bridge approach trusses required a full closure of more than six weeks while the bridge was fully inspected and repaired. The full closure resulted in extensive detours for the approximately 67,000 daily vehicles traveling this section of I-95. Since the closure, the tolling agencies have programmed funding to complete an Alternatives Analysis, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and Preliminary Engineering.
The PTC and the Authority are now considering a range of alternatives including rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge. The Alternatives Analysis to evaluate potential replacement alignments and bridge types is expected to be completed later this year.
Once the Alternatives Analysis is complete, design activities will continue into 2027 with Preliminary Engineering (PE) of the most viable alternatives identified. The SEIS will evaluate changes since 2003, a range of alternatives, assess impacts, and obtain input from federal, state, and local regulatory agencies and the public.
Once preliminary engineering and environmental clearance are complete, the next steps are to complete final design and construction.
