$600 Million Awarded To Replace Delaware River Bridge

BRISTOL, PA — A $600 million project has been approved that will replace the Delaware River–Turnpike Toll Bridge connecting Bucks County to Florence, New Jersey, a major development in one of the region's biggest infrastructure projects that has been years in the making.

The bridge which carries I-95 between states and some 67,000 commuters, trucks, and other travelers per day, was built in 1956.

“This $600 million investment is one of the most consequential infrastructure commitments in Pennsylvania’s history," Pennsylvania's U.S. Senators Dave McCormick and John Fetterman said in a joint announcement. "And we are proud to have fought to secure this funding by writing directly to Transportation Secretary Duffy to make the case for why the Delaware River Bridge deserves federal investment."

Traffic congestion has increased since the span joined Interstate 95 following a 2018 interchange project in Bristol Township. The bridge has also seen an increase in heavy truck traffic, which has taken its toll on the support beams. A fracture in a support truss in 2017 caused a closure that lasted more than six weeks.

It's not yet clear when construction may begin. Preliminary design work and planning is expected to continue through 2027, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission says, and further public comment phases and environmental analysis could last through 2031.

Once actual construction gets underway, it's expected to last anywhere from four to eight years, depending on the exact design plan that moves forward.

It's not yet clear if the new funding has significantly altered these timelines.

“The Delaware River Bridge is not just a Pennsylvania asset; it is a backbone of our national freight and passenger transportation network," McCormick and Fetterman added. "This funding will make it safer and more resilient for the commuters, families, and businesses that depend on it every single day."

The project will also aim to align the surrounding roadways with a widened bridge, while supporting the projected long-term traffic growth for the region and addressing critical sustainability issues like flood resilience.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's FY 2025 Bridge Investment Program.