NEW HOPE, PA – The New Hope-Lambertville Toll-Supported Bridge is scheduled to be shut down to all vehicular traffic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 6, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.
The planned midday closure will enable engineers to fully deploy a “friction collar,” a custom-made stabilization device that has been installed around a structurally compromised connection point on the 120-year-old steel truss bridge. The device will be incrementally tensioned during the temporary closure period, with engineers using computers to closely monitor a series of electronic sensors called strain gauges attached to various bridge components.
To carry out the device-activation process, the bridge’s roadway deck must be closed to all vehicular traffic for up to four hours. Pedestrian crossings will be allowed, but they will be subjected to stoppages and controlled escorts. Pedestrian volumes are low during Januarys, even during daytime hours.
The scheduled January 6 four-hour-long bridge closure is weather dependent and, therefore, subject to change. A firm “go/no go’ decision on the January 6 date is expected to be made by the prior Friday, January 3.
Alternate Vehicular Routes During Temporary Bridge Closure
As has been the case for the past 10 months, New Jersey-bound motorists will be detoured a mile north to the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge, which does not have a toll in the New Jersey-bound direction.
Pennsylvania-bound motorists will have three options:
- The closest alternate river crossing is the New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge, one mile north. This is tolled in the PA-bound direction. The Class 1 toll for personal vehicles (motorcycles, cars, pickups, vans, and SUVs up to 8-feet high with two axles) is $1.50 for E-ZPass and $3 for TOLL BY PLATE (an invoice sent in the mail to the vehicle’s registered owner).
- The closest non-toll option is the Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge, 3.3 miles north.
- Downriver, the closest option is the Washington Crossing Bridge (narrow) 6.9 miles south.
Next Steps After Tensioning
Once engineers complete the process of tensioning the friction collar and its associated clamps and bars, a week-long process of monitoring the device and related truss sections for slippage and other movements will begin. This monitoring will again involve computers and electronic sensors attached to bridge truss sections.
Barring any major issues, the successfully tensioned stabilization device will enable work crews to permanently repair the deteriorated structural connection during a two-week-long bridge shutdown starting on or about January 13 and ending by January 27. All vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be blocked from crossing the bridge during the two-week-long shutdown.
The two-week-long bridge shutdown was announced in late November. The two-week-period during the second half of January was chosen for the work in large measure because that often is 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.
As with the temporary four-hour bridge closure currently scheduled for January 6, the January 13 start date for the two-week-long closure is weather-dependent and subject to postponement.
Once the two-week-long shutdown begins, motorists will need to use other bridges to cross the river (see alternate routes above).
Free Shuttle Service for Pedestrians
For pedestrians, the Commission plans to provide a free shuttle service operating 19 hours each day the bridge is closed – 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. The service is intended solely for bridge walkway patrons. The service will utilize the same two designated drop-off/pick-up locations used earlier in the bridge rehabilitation project. Both stops are close to the bridge in the commercial centers of the two riverfront communities:
- New Hope loading/unloading stop: on the northbound side of North Main Street approximate to the park benches near the building that houses the PNC Bank and Starbucks Coffee.
- Lambertville loading/unloading stop: the Pennsylvania-bound side of Bridge Street in the general area of the former Black River and Western Railroad crossing and the Princeton Bank building.
