Riegelsville Toll-Supported Bridge Rehabilitation Project

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission plans to rehabilitate the Riegelsville Toll-Supported Bridge in 2010.  A project fact sheet is available for viewing here.  Other project information, including display materials from a November 5, 2009 open house, are available through links below on this Web page.

At 105 years old, the Riegelsville span is one of the Commission's oldest and most unique bridges. It is the only vehicular suspension span in the Commission's 20-bridge system. It is heralded by bridge historians as "one of the few (if not the only) remaining American multi-span highway suspension bridges with continuous cables." Finally, the bridge is the handiwork of John A. Roebling's Sons Company, the famous steel-cable manufacturing firm that built the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge.

While the bridge is currently safe to carry its posted load (2-1/2 tons - the lowest load rating for any DRJTBC vehicular bridge), the Commission stepped up efforts to rehabilitate the span after the agency's annual inspection report for 2008. The following are among the conditions identified in recent inspections:

• Severe deterioration of steel floor beams;
• Wheel paths of the steel-grid deck are worn;
• Lead-based paint system is deteriorating;
• Pennsylvania approach roadway exhibits cracking, unevenness and general deterioration; and
• The concrete and masonry piers and abutments are deteriorated.

The Commission has studied several design and construction concepts to address the bridge's repair and rehabilitation. As a part of this planning work, the Commission has hired a consulting engineering firm - Ammann and Whitney of Philadelphia - that has expertise in planning suspension bridge rehabilitation projects. One major facet of the work is to preserve the historical integrity of the bridge while incorporating more modern and durable materials to enhance safety and performance.

It is anticipated that the eventual project will include rehabilitating or replacing the bridge's steel floor system and sidewalks, painting the bridge's superstructure, rehabilitating the substructure above the waterline, milling and repaving the Pennsylvania approach to the bridge, upgrading bridge lighting, and improving the signage on the bridge's approaches.

When the project is completed, engineers anticipate the bridge's load rating could be increased to three tons. The repairs and improvements also should improve the bridge's condition so it will not need major repairs or protracted lane closures for at least 15 years.

As part of the engineering design work for the bridge rehabilitation, the Commission is working with local elected officials, residents, and businesses in an effort to raise public awareness and mitigate the impact of this rehabilitation effort. These public-involvement activities are being conducted to help Commission personnel decide upon the length of the construction schedule and how the project will be staged. The Commission has already publicized the project on several occasions and it will maintain this Web page to help keep the public abreast of major project milestones. The Commission also has had direct meetings with stakeholders such as elected officials and business owners, as well as an open house for the general public.

The open house, which was held November 5 at the municipal building in Riegelsville, Pa, was attended by 124 individuals, including area residents, motorists who use the bridge, and local business owners.  A press release on the open house is available in the News & Travel section of this Web site, which may be accessed by clicking here.

The session consisted of a variety of viewing stations where the public was able to examine project concepts, ask questions, and comment on the project to the project design/engineering team.  The primary objective of the open house was to gather comment on the various scheduling options and construction staging alternatives that are under consideration.

The open house display materials, including the various construction-duration and cost options under consideration, are available for viewing by clicking here.

The rehabilitation project is part of the Commission's long-term $1 billion-plus capital improvement program for system preservation, management, security and enhancement. The cost of the program is ultimately paid through revenues generated at the Commission's seven toll bridges; the agency does not receive federal or state funding for its operations.

The Riegelsville Toll-Supported Bridge connects the Borough of Riegelsville in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with the Riegelsville section of Pohatcong Township in Warren County, New Jersey. The original bridge at the location -- a covered wooden structure -- was constructed in 1835. It remained in service until the entire superstructure was swept away by the flood of October 10, 1903, often referred to as "The Pumpkin Flood."

The existing bridge, constructed in 1904, is a three-span suspension structure with a total length of 577 feet. The sidewalk railing is actually a double-warren truss, assisting in stiffening the bridge roadway. The substructure, masonry piers originally built in 1835, were raised and built up in 1904. The pier nearest the Pennsylvania approach was almost completely demolished in the flood of 1936 and was subsequently rebuilt using reinforced concrete.

The bridge handled a daily average of 3,400 vehicles in 2008.

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