Bridge Plans To Eliminate Cash Tolling: What South Jersey Commuters Should Know

PENNSVILLE, NJ — The Delaware Memorial Bridge, which links South Jersey and northern Delaware, will eliminate cash tolling. But it could take a few years to switch to an all-electronic system.

The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) announced Tuesday that cash tolling will be eliminated on the bridge in the coming years. Funding for the change comes from a five-year strategic plan that the DRBA recently adopted.

A date for the switch to all-electronic tolling hasn't been determined. But DRBA officials expect it to take effect in late 2029 or early 2030, a spokesperson told Patch.

Cash tolling has been phased out in surrounding states, with Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York implementing all-electronic tolling.

Last month, the Atlantic City Expressway became New Jersey's first highway to require E-ZPass.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge has moved toward a cashless future. In April, the bridge hiked cash tolls from $5 to $6 while continuing to charge E-ZPass users $4.75.

The bridge brings commuters to and from Pennsville, New Jersey, and New Castle County, Delaware.

The move was designed to convince more drivers to adopt E-ZPass, which 79 percent of Delaware Memorial Bridge drivers were using before the toll hike.

It's the first step in a two-phase toll hike plan. The DRBA has said that the second toll increase could impact all drivers as soon as Jan. 1, 2027. But the agency hasn't made a decision on next year's toll rates, a DRBA spokesperson said.

The DRBA's new strategic plan makes the future switch to cashless tolling official. The bridge authority has allocated $34 million through 2029 to develop infrastructure for all-electronic collection, which includes a new overhead gantry, lane reconfiguration, technical upgrades and demolishing the existing toll plaza.

The plan describes the bridge's current tolling system as "end of life and in need of replacement."

Along with the bridge, the DRBA operates the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and several small airports in the region. The agency's plans feature $161 million in capital improvements to its facilities through 2029. Roughly $134 million will come from DRBA resources, while $27 million will be supported by federal, state and local grants, the agency says.