In May and June, motorists may encounter periodic daytime lane closures at toll bridges operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission as the agency’s engineers and consultants conduct annual inspections.
Findings from the bridge inspections help the commission identify structural, operational and safety issues that need to be addressed by maintenance crews or through future capital projects.
While much of the inspection work takes place out of public sight, lane restrictions are occasionally needed when inspection teams assess pavements or areas above and around a structure’s road deck. The travel restrictions are limited to off-peak single-lane closures. Traffic impacts are expected to be minor.
This year’s inspections will focus on eight toll bridges: Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), Scudder Falls (I-295), New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202), I-78, Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22), Portland-Columbia (Routes 611, 46, and 94), Delaware Water Gap (I-80) and Milford-Montague (Route 206). Only the upstream span of the Scudder Falls Toll Bridge will be inspected this year as the downstream span is still under construction.
The commission performs bridge inspections annually. Its toll bridges are inspected in odd-numbered years and its toll-supported bridges (non-toll) are examined in even-numbered years. `Under this process, each commission bridge receives a full examination every two years, thereby meeting a requirement established by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Bridge Inspection Standards. Findings are published in the commission’s annual inspection reports posted on their website.
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