March 5, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Pete Peterson (215) 893-4297 or Kim Maialetti (215) 893-4279

MORRISVILLE, PA - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced today that alternating lane closures associated with the rehabilitation of the Milford-Montague Toll Bridge will commence on March 10^th. The project includes replacement of the existing bridge deck, the blast-cleaning and repainting of the bridge, and replacement of the approach roadway pavements and the existing toll plaza.

The alternating lane closures will remain in effect until12:00 noon on May 22^nd, the Thursday prior to Memorial Day 2008. At that time, the project will enter into a summer moratorium on the alternating lane closures until mid-September. The summer moratorium - which will return the bridge back into full two-lane operation -- was put in place by the Commission as part of its ongoing efforts to address the concerns of the local community. The moratorium is designed to accommodate vacation travelers and local businesses during the summer months, when traffic on the bridge increases nearly 50 percent.

"The summer moratorium on the alternating lane closures is in keeping with the Commission's practice of working to accommodate the concerns of local communities and residents," said Frank McCartney, Executive Director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. "Our goal with this and other Commission projects is to extend the useful life of the bridge and rehabilitate it to the point that we will not have to conduct any long-term lane closures for at least another 15 years."

Traffic signals will be placed on the bridge to control alternating lanes of traffic through the work zone during the single-lane closure period that commences on March 10^th. Due to the limited lane widths, wide loads and permit loads will not be allowed while the bridge deck is being replaced. In addition, the walkway for bicycles and pedestrians has been suspended temporarily until the scheduled completion of the project in May 2009.

In recent weeks, the Commission revisited the bicycle-access issue after it was raised at a public meeting last month. After due deliberation, the Commission concluded that prudence and the safety of bicyclists and motorists warrants the prohibition remaining in effect during construction. Bicycles have never been allowed on the roadway bridge deck. The pedestrian walkway, where bicycles are normally allowed to be walked across the bridge, will be obstructed by a containment structure intended to protect the public and the river below the bridge. The walkway, which is located to the side and below the main bridge deck, will be included within a containment structure that is being built to prevent public exposure to lead dust, construction debris and residual paint spray.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission held a number of community meetings on the rehabilitation project, including meetings with public officials and an open house for the general public. Local residents with any questions or who would like additional information are encouraged to call the Commission's project hotline at 1-888-203-7690 or visit the project Web site at www.drjtbc.org/mm.

The project includes rehabilitation of the bridge, approach work on both sides of the Delaware River and replacement of the toll plaza. Work includes the replacement of the bridge's precast concrete deck panels, the replacement of deteriorated supporting stringers and the blast cleaning and painting of the entire steel superstructure. The Pennsylvania and New Jersey approaches and shoulders will be repaired and or replaced and additional signage will be installed on the approaches. The existing toll plaza also will be replaced with two new booths and a dedicated E-ZPass lane.

The Milford-Montague Toll Bridge is the northern-most bridge crossing the Delaware River under the Commission's jurisdiction. Located seven miles south of the New Jersey and New York state line, the bridge connects U.S. Route 206 at Montague, N.J. to US. Routes 6 and 209 at Milford, Pa. In 2006, an average of 8,500 trips was made across the bridge daily.

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, formed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and state of New Jersey in 1934, operates seven toll and 11 vehicular and two pedestrian toll-supported (free) bridges along the Delaware River from Trenton-Morrisville to the New York border. These bridges carry more than 135 million cars and trucks each year. For more information about the Commission and its various initiatives to deliver safer and more convenient bridge travel for its customers, please see: www.drjtbc.org.

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