Delaware Memorial Bridge

The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River, connecting Interstate 295, the New Jersey Turnpike, and Route 130 in Pennsville, New Jersey to Interstate 295, Route 9, Route 13, and Route 40 in New Castle, Delaware. The bridges are dedicated to the war dead of both New Jersey and Delaware, thus its name. It is operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

History

The two states approved construction of the first span in 1945, after years of debate and controversy. Congress approved the project in 1946, and construction eventually began in 1949. The project took two years to complete, opening to traffic on August 15, 1951 and dedicated to the soldiers of World War II. The bridge quickly proved a popular travel route, attracting more than 15 million cars per year by 1960. The second span was opened in 1968, dedicated to the soldiers of the Korean War and Vietnam War. The original span carried New Jersey-bound traffic, while the newer span carried the Delaware-bound traffic.

Specifications

The twin spans are very similar in dimensions, though the newer span is somewhat wider to accommodate the larger vehicles of its time. The suspension spans measure 2,150 feet (655 meters) each, with total lengths of 3,650 feet (1,112 meters).