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The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River. The toll bridges carry Interstate 295 and U.S. Highway 40 between Delaware and New Jersey.
The bridges also provide connection with the New Jersey Turnpike, and U.S. Highway 130 in Pennsville, New Jersey in Deepwater, New Jersey on the north side and U.S. Highway 13, U.S. Highway 301, and Route 9 in New Castle, Delaware.
The bridges are dedicated to the war dead of both New Jersey and Delaware, thus its name. The toll facility is operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
History
The states of Delaware and New Jersey approved construction of the first span in 1945, after years of debate and controversy. The United States Congress approved the project in 1946, and construction eventually began in 1949.
The project cost $44 million. It took two years to complete the 440-foot-high span, which opened to traffic on August 15, 1951. The original span was dedicated to the soldiers of World War II.
The bridge quickly proved a popular travel route as the New Jersey Turnpike connection was completed at the north end. By 1955, nearly 8 million vehicles were crossing the bridge each year—almost double the original projection. By 1960, it was attracting more than 15 million cars per year, increasing even more when it began linking the newly constructed Delaware Turnpike in November, 1963.
A second span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge was opened in 1968, and was dedicated to the soldiers of the Korean War and Vietnam War.
The original span carries New Jersey-bound traffic, while the newer span carries the Delaware-bound traffic.
Today, more than 80,000 vehicles cross the twin spans on their combined total of 8 lanes daily.
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).
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