The seven-span Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for four months -- effective 6 a.m. Monday, May 24 -- to allow contractors to conduct an extensive facelift of the 125-year-old wrought-iron structure.

Regular users of the bridge are urged to plan ahead in anticipation of the bridge's shutdown. A designated detour route using the nearby Lower Trenton ("Trenton Makes") Toll-Supported Bridge is available for viewing and downloading.  Motorists who regularly used should expect to encounter longer commuting times in the wake of the bridge's shutdown.

Motorists also may wish to consider using the Scudder Falls (I-95) Bridge to the north and the Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1) Toll Bridge farther to the south.  Despite the Commission's efforts to raise public awareness of the shutdown, there will likely be an adjustment period once the bridge is taken out of service.  Motorists who regularly use any of the Southerly Crossings in the Trenton-Morrisville area should expect to encounter longer commuting times once the Calhoun Street Bridge is taken out of service.

The bridge is the most heavily used vehicular two-lane truss structure in the Commission's system.  It carried an average of 18,400 vehicles per day in 2009.

To provide a means of two-way communication on the project, the Commission has established a special toll-free project hotline -- 888-222-9620.  Callers to the phone line may leave any questions or comments they have regarding the project on the voicemail recorder. They can expect a response within one business day if they leave a return number.

On February 22, 2010, the Commission awarded two contracts to carry out a planned rehabilitation project for this bridge.  The construction contractor was issued a notice to proceed on March 19 and immediately started taking bridge measurements for materials. Beginning April 14, weekday alternating lane restrictions were put into effect at the bridge to enable work crews to execute a series of preliminary measures, including the installation of a containment shield beneath the bridge to prevent debris from falling into the river once full-blown construction work gets underway.  The alternating lane closures were slated to end with the bridge's complete shutdown on May 24.

The use of an uninterrupted round-the-clock, seven-days-a-week closure was chosen for the bridge as a result of a public involvement program the Commission conducted during the spring and summer of 2009.  During that process, 77 percent of participating respondents said they favored an uninterrupted-closure as opposed to other options that would have lengthened the project's overall time frame, driven up costs exponentially, and raised the potential for unanticipated project delays.  Residents and business owners also urged the Commission to conduct its work during the warm-weather season, an accommodation the Commission also agreed to make.  (The Commission originally proposed to start the project's work early in 2010.)  A press release on the Commission's contract awards and May 24 project start date is available for viewing in the News & Travel section of this Web site.

The Calhoun Street Toll-Supported Bridge is the oldest of the 28 bridges (motor vehicle and pedestrian) that currently span the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Built in 1884, the bridge is a Phoenix Pratt truss with a total length of 1,274 feet -- the longest through-truss bridge in the Commission's 20-bridge inventory.

It is the only Commission bridge constructed completely of wrought iron.  Its iron components were produced by the same company that manufactured the internal iron work for the Washington Monument in our nation's capital.  The bridge also served for a period time as part of the Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental automobile route.  A large plaque attesting to the bridge's Lincoln Highway history is still attached to bridge and a photo is available for viewing on the bridge's information page.

While annual inspections show the bridge's condition is sufficient to support its posted 3-ton load, recent examinations have determined the floor system to be in poor condition.  Steps need to be taken now to prevent protected emergency closures that would pose severe negative repercussions for motorists, businesses and local communities.

As noted above, the Commission committed to undertaking the rehabilitation project on this span during the onset of warm weather in 2010.  The work is expected to include replacement of the superstructure's floor system, repairs of the iron truss, painting of the superstructure, repairs to the substructure and approach roadways, and improvements to the bridge rail and sidewalk safety features.  A fact sheet for the project may be viewed by clicking here.

The construction work is being performed by Neshaminy Constructors, Inc. of Feasterville, PA.  The company was awarded a contract in the amount of $9,054,000.  Construction management and engineering oversight are being performed by Hill International of Philadelphia, Pa., which was awarded a contract for an amount not-to-exceed $1,080,657.24.  Under the contract, construction activities will take place during two shifts -- total of up 16 hours per day -- Mondays through Saturdays.  If necessary, the contractor may request Commission permission to perform work on Sundays.

The Commission sought public input during the spring and early summer of 2009 on how it should schedule and stage the project.  This public-involvement process helped guide the project team in determining how to close the bridge to traffic and for what duration.

The public outreach on this project involved direct meetings with stakeholders (including elected officials, business owners and employees, residents, civic groups, and agencies), two open houses (one in Trenton and one in Morrisville), project updates - such as this one --on the Commission's Web site, and publicity through various media outlets.

In an effort to promote community awareness and involvement, the Commission decided to extend the period of time that the public could provide comment about the project and its respective construction duration options.

Some of the materials that were made available during the process may still be of interest to members of the public as the project progresses, such as the traffic detour.

• In-depth Inspection Findings
• Phoenix Bridge Type
• Proposed Bridge Repairs
• Proposed Detour
• Rehabilitation Study and Structural Analysis
• Truss Bridge Terminology

When completed, it's anticipated the project will improve travel for motorists and pedestrians while precluding major repairs and long-term lane closures for a minimum of 15 years.

The Commission has been preparing for the project since September 24, 2007, when the Commission awarded a contract with an engineering consulting firm to perform a structural analysis of the bridge.

The bridge is currently posted for a 3-ton weight limit, an 8-foot vertical clearance and a 15-mph speed limit.  In 2008, an average 18,500 trips were made across the bridge per day.

Members of the public who may have questions or concerns about the project are urged to contact:

Richard McClellan
Director of Community Affairs
(267) 790-1063
rmcclellan@drjtbc.org