FRENCHTOWN, N.J. - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has announced a detour of Pennsylvania-bound vehicular traffic at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Toll-Supported Bridge to begin on or about February 13.
Officials say that once established, the PA-bound traffic detour is expected to remain in place without interruption until the fall.
The removal of PA-bound traffic from the bridge's road deck will allow a commission contractor to install debris-containment measures for a multi-faceted rehabilitation of the 93-year-old structure during 2025, the press release says.
PA-Bound Traffic Detour
The detour of PA-bound bridge traffic will be as follows, beginning at the corner of Bridge Street/NJ Route 12 and Harrison Street/County Route 619:
Initial work activities at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge will involve the installation of debris-containment/work platforms below the bridge and above the bridge’s vehicular traffic lanes, officials say.
This project set-up stage is expected to take up to four weeks to complete. The bridge will remain open to New Jersey-bound traffic and the walkway will remain in service during this period, according to the news release.
Officials say that a bridge walkway closure is expected to begin in March and continue to September. This will allow for removal of the current concrete-filled steel-grid surface and installation a new widened surface, the press release says.
Officials say that NJ-bound traffic detours also will need to be instituted periodically for other rehabilitation activities later on in the project (dates and times to be announced when scheduled).
The primary focus for the contractor and its subcontractor this spring will be cleaning of the bridge down to bare metal with repairs being made where needed, according to the release. A three-coat paint system will later be applied followed by electrical and lighting work.
The rehabilitation of the six-span Warren-truss bridge will include a litany of tasks, including – but not limited to – following:
The project’s construction contract was awarded to low-bidder Anselmi & DeCicco, Inc. of Maplewood, NJ. for a not-to-exceed amount of $22,216,237.00, the press release says. Officials say a separate contract for construction-management/inspections services was awarded to Urban Engineers Incorporated of Cherry Hill, NJ. for a not-to-exceed amount of $1,587,138.62. All project costs ultimately are paid for by the tolls the Commission collects at its eight toll bridges.
The bridge between Frenchtown Borough, N.J. and the Uhlerstown section of Tinicum Township, PA. was last rehabilitated in 2001, according to the press release. The bridge superstructure has a 15-ton weight limit, a 12-foot, 6-inch height restriction, and a 15-MPH speed limit. It carried an average of 4,800 vehicles per day in 2024.