The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has announced a January 13, 2025 starting date for a full two-week-long shutdown of the New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge.
The full bridge closure is expected to prevent all motor vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the aging structure until on or about January 27, 2025. The shutdown is needed so work crews can permanently repair a deteriorated structural connection that was discovered this summer in the bridge’s second span from the Pennsylvania side.
The upcoming full bridge closure is scheduled to occur during what are often the two coldest weeks of the year. Accordingly, crossings by motor vehicles and pedestrians are at their lowest volumes during this annual period. The full bridge closure also would occur after the winter holiday season ends.
If all goes according to plan and there are no winter-storm delays, the bridge could be reopened to vehicular crossings in both directions after the structural repair work is completed. Pedestrian crossings also could resume at that time.
The bridge has been undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation since late January 2024, when an uninterrupted New Jersey-bound traffic detour went into effect. Pedestrians crossings have been restricted to a temporary walkway on the bridge’s roadway deck since mid-July.
It originally was anticipated that the structure could be reopened this fall, with a return of two-way traffic on the bridge’s roadway deck and pedestrians using a soon-to-be-completed new walkway facility. However, the unforeseen – but fortunate — discovery of the deteriorated structural connection has derailed the bridge rehabilitation’s schedule and the progression of construction activities.
Currently, the bridge is open to Pennsylvania-bound vehicular traffic with a temporary walkway in place to serve pedestrians. Work on a new permanent walkway on the bridge’s downstream side has progressed to the point where that facility could be opened to the public’s use within a few days. However, the walkway opening is contingent on work crews completing the installation of a “friction collar,” a device that would stabilize the bridge sufficiently for the walkway to be opened.
Full details including alternate routes during the two-week shutdown are posted at https://www.drjtbc.org/2024/11/two-week-shutdown-of-new-hope-lambertville-bridge-expected-to-begin-january-13/
