Delaware River Bridge Structure Defended In Wake Of MD Collapse

YARDLEY, PA —In the wake of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore earlier this week, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is trying to ease the minds of some worried commuters who cross the river on one of their spans.

Joseph F. Donnelly, the DRJTBC deputy executive director of communications, posted a photo on Facebook late Thursday "in an effort to dispel rumors, hysteria, and concerns" about the structural integrity of the Delaware Water Gap (Interstate 80) Toll Bridge.

"Individuals attempting to irresponsibly raise public alarm by drawing some parallel between these superfluous outdated non-structural plates and Tuesday morning’s tragic and fatal collapse of Maryland’s Francis Scott Key (I-695) Bridge — a catastrophe caused by a container ship collision — should be ashamed of themselves," Donnelly said.

In accordance with federal law, the bridge is inspected every two years. The bridge was last inspected in 2023 and "passed with flying colors," Donnelly said.

Donnelly said that the rusted pieces of steel on the Delaware Water Gap (Interstate 80) Toll Bridge are non-structural plates installed directly above a railroad right-of-way that crosses beneath the bridge on the Pennsylvania side.

He said the plates are obsolete and inessential.

"Their condition is not reflective of the bridge’s overall structural state, which is fine," he said.

The two lines of riveted steel plates date from many decades ago when steam rail engines traveled on the tracks below the bridge. The plates shielded the steel girders and road deck above from heat, steam, and debris spewed by yesteryear’s steam engines, Donnelly said.

At one time, the railroad right-of-way had two sets of tracks (four rails). There is only one set of tracks today, he said.

"The Commission is aware of the plates, but removal would be challenging because the rail tracks below remain active," Donnelly said. "The plates do not pose a problem by remaining fastened to the bridge’s underside."

The commission oversees bridges at Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1); I-78; Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 202); Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46, and 94); Delaware Water Gap (I-80); and Milford-Montague (Route 206), the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge, and the 119-year-old Washington Crossing Toll-Supported Bridge.