Delaware Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridge ORT/Express E-ZPass Project

This traffic-congestion-mitigation project involves the creation of an Open-Road Tolling (ORT) lane along I-80 westbound on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge.

The Commission currently is working to have this new electronic toll-collection lane operational by the busy Thanksgiving Day weekend in 2010.  In an accomodation for the region's tourism-oriented economy, the Commission is postponing project-related lane closures until after the summer travel season ends on Labor Day.  The Commission also will remove toll gates at the bridge's toll plaza prior to the onset of lane closures.

Motorists can expect to encounter project-related traffic impacts beginning Wednesday, September 8, when the contractor will implement a long-term closure of the two far-left lanes at the bridge's current eight-lane westbound toll plaza.  Two additional lanes also may be taken out of service during off-peak hours after this date, leaving westbound motorists with four available toll lanes.  (From Saturday, September 18, to Friday, September 24, all four lanes on the plaza's left side will be closed around-the-clock to allow for construction of new foundations.  Drivers should plan ahead for delays, especially during peak travel times.)

An updated project fact sheet is available for viewing by clicking here.  A press release announcing the onset of construction preparations and September traffic impacts is available here.

ORT, also known as Express E-ZPass, allows motorists operating a vehicle equipped with an E-ZPass electronic toll collection transponder to pay their tolls while driving at highway speeds. Because Express E-ZPass transponder readers configured for open road tolling can process 2,200 cars an hour as compared to 400 vehicles an hour by manual toll collection, the technology helps to reduce traffic congestion and delays at conventional toll plazas.

A concept plan for installing ORT at this location was completed in the first half of 2009. The project calls for the removal of the three left toll plaza booths and replacing them with a single open-road tolling lane. Additionally, the remaining five lanes at the toll plaza will consist of a new E-ZPass only lane and four mixed-mode (cash and electronic toll collections) lanes. All lanes also would be able handle both cars and trucks.

The newly configured toll plaza with ORT/Express E-ZPass would enable the Commission to process more transactions per hour than is currently possible at the location. Moreover, the set up will enable the toll plaza to operate more efficiently as more and more drivers use E-ZPass to pay their tolls.

A similar project at the Commission's I-78 Toll Bridge resulted in the opening of two Express E-ZPass lanes at the bridge's toll plaza on May 13, 2010.

The ORT/Express E-ZPass project is viewed as a short-term means to help reduce significant traffic congestion in the westbound lanes of I-80 at the Delaware Water Gap, especially during peak summer travel periods. Moreover, traffic forecasts indicate that traffic congestion at the crossing will continue to worsen significantly in future years. As noted in the Northerly Crossing Corridor Congestion Mitigation Study that was prepared for the Commission and released in 2006, westbound I-80 traffic approaching the current toll plaza at the DWG bridge currently operates at a Level of Service (LOS) F. LOS is a term used in the transportation industry to qualitatively describe the operating conditions of a roadway based on factors such as speed, travel time, maneuverability, delay, and safety. A facility's LOS is designated with a letter - A to F, with A representing the best operating conditions and F the worst.

Recognizing both the existing and future traffic congestion challenges at this location, the Commission is taking a phased approach to address the bridge's short- and long-term traffic capacity needs. Phase I would be the fast-tracked implementation of ORT at the bridge, which would significantly increase the capacity of the toll plaza and alleviate much of the congestion in the westbound direction. Phase II would be an anticipated rehabilitation and widening project still under consideration for the bridge. The widening and rehabilitation project is currently scheduled for 2015. The long lead time is needed because the geography and configuration of the existing bridge will make the task of properly designing the additional lane and obtaining environmental approvals a lengthy process.

In late June 2009, the Commission awarded an engineering contract to Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. of Philadelphia, Pa., to provide final- and post-design services for implementation of ORT/Express E-ZPass at the bridge.

As a part of the project planning process, the Commission conducted a public involvement program that primarily consisted of efforts aimed at raising public-awareness about the project, potential traffic delays that could occur during construction, and long-term benefits.

The outreach included the creation of this Web page and an open house/stakeholders meeting that took place Wednesday, September 23 at the Quality Inn, 1220 West Main Street, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Project materials displayed at the open house are available for viewing by clicking on the following items:

• Overview of DWG ORT/Express E-ZPass facility
• Benefits of ORT/Express E-ZPass at DWG(I-80) toll plaza
• Aerial rendering of ORT/Express E-ZPass project
• Alternative route for travel during construction

 The Delaware Water Gap Toll Bridge connects Hardwick Township, Warren County, New Jersey with the Borough of Delaware Water Gap, Monroe County, Pennsylvania. Carrying I-80 across the Delaware River near Stroudsburg, Pa., the bridge is the primary gateway between the heavily populated areas of northeastern New Jersey/New York City, and the Pocono Montains resorts region and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area.

The bridge opened on December 16, 1953, the fourth of the seven toll bridges constructed and operated by the Commission. It is a dual roadway, multi-span, steel plate structure that measures 2,465 feet in length. The bridge carries Interstate 80 across the Delaware River near Stroudsburg, Pa., providing a gateway from eastern metropolitan areas to the Pocono tourist and recreational destinations. Part of the Appalachian Trail, the bridge offers both hikers and motorists a spectacular scenic view of the world famous Delaware Water Gap. The current one-way toll plaza, located on the Pennsylvania approach, has 8 toll lanes in the westbound direction. The bridge carried an average of 53,900 vehicles per day across the bridge 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