DELAWARE WATER GAP, PA – Motorists traveling I-80 in the vicinity of the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge may encounter delays during midday hours on Wednesday and Thursday as the structure undergoes biennial inspections, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today.
Westbound travel on the bridge will be reduced to a single lane from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 10. Eastbound travel on the bridge will be restricted to a single lane from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 11.
The inspections are required by federal law. The findings assist Commission engineers in determining what the agency’s capital improvement priorities should be. They also help guide the agency’s maintenance crews in scheduling any needed repairs over the course of the coming year.
While bridge inspections must take place during daylight hours for maximum visibility, the closure periods are purposely limited to midday hours. This prevents conflicts with the morning and afternoon peak commuting periods, mitigating motorist impacts.
The scheduled travel restrictions are subject to change due to weather, emergency, and traffic considerations. Motorists are urged to reduce speeds and exercise caution when travelling through active work zones.
The Commission performs bridge inspections on an annual basis. The agency’s seven toll bridges are inspected in odd-numbered years. The Commission’s non-toll (toll-supported) bridges are examined in even years.
In addition to the bridges, the inspections also assess the condition of the agency’s other transportation facilities such as approach roadways, toll plaza and support buildings.
The inspections are conducted so that each Commission bridge gets a full examination every two years, a standard that meets the requirements of the Federal Highway Administration and the National Bridge Inspection Standards.
Finding are published in the Commission’s Annual Inspection Reports, which are available online at www.drjtbc.org.
