Public Comment Being Taken On Washington Crossing Bridge Alternatives

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission will be accepting public comment through March 12 on its "Washington Crossing Bridge Alternatives Analysis."

The analysis is investigating a handful of alternatives for the span, which commission officials say is rife with inherent flaws, including a substandard design, narrow travel lanes, a bare-minimum load rating, frequent vehicle collisions, and timber-crib foundations.

Between now and the fall, engineers and professionals are taking a deep dive into alternatives for the bridge, which range from doing nothing to rehabilitating the existing span by widening the current structure to replacing the span with a new bridge meeting PennDOT's modern standards, which would open the door to heavy truck traffic through the historic village.

The alternatives were presented to the public during open house scoping meetings on Feb. 10 and 11 in Upper Makefield and in Hopewell Township, New Jersey. The materials displayed during the open house events, along with an introductory video, are available online for public review and comment until March 12.

The materials can be viewed on the commission's project website by clicking here.

The site was established for the multi-year research, documentation, and review process, which is being conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

According to the commission, the public scoping process will guide it in defining the scope of its environmental review by helping to identify significant issues, obtain necessary data, develop feasible alternatives, and understand potential mitigation measures. This is part of a larger environmental documentation process.

Comments and alternative ideas can be submitted online through a digital comment form accessible via the “Events” section or “Contact” portal on the project website. The website also features a link to the introductory video that documents the bridge’s deficiencies and the alternative analysis process, which has been viewed more than 8,800 times.

The Washington Crossing Bridge is the commission’s narrowest bridge, with a 15-foot-wide roadway divided into two 7.5-foot travel lanes. The bridge has had a three-ton weight restriction since 1995. In 2025, over 1,900 vehicles were turned away to protect the bridge’s structural integrity. Additional public events are planned as the alternatives analysis progresses.