FLORENCE — The New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission hosted an open house meeting March 20 to review a tentative timeline for Delaware River Bridge construction.
This event was held at the Florence Municipal Building. The open house allowed residents to fill out a form with their comments and concerns about the upcoming project.
It was also attended by employees of both the New Jersey authority and Pennsylvania commission, who talked with residents about the timeline and different workings of the projects through a presentation of different information displays.
One of the displays allowed residents to take a push pin and put it where their home is located.
Employees of these government agencies are still exploring options regarding what to do with the 70-year-old bridge. It connects the New Jersey and Pennsylvania highways between Burlington and Florence on the New Jersey side and Bristol on the Pennsylvania side.
John Boyer, a project manager for the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, said that they are still going through an environmental study phase to explore options regarding whether to rehab the existing bridge or to move it.
"It is a 70-year-old bridge, so we need to do what makes the most sense and is the most cost-effective. We are exploring a bunch of options," Boyer said. "However, it is too premature for me to say what we are going to do at this moment."
The current phase that the project is in will allow the members of the public on both sides of the bridge to make their comments and concerns known.
Boyer said it's unclear how residents may be affected by the project. But he added they will keep the public involved as much possible.
"We are definitely going to meet with the public, regardless of what we do," he said.
"We are going to be as transparent as possible. As for any impacts, it is still too soon to tell until we have a an alternative and that is still a two-and-a-half-year process."
Boyer also said he doesn't expect much of a delay or disruption in travel when construction begins, at least nothing like what occurred in 2017, when the bridge closed because of a fracture.
"We will keep the bridge open regardless of what we decide to do. We need to keep the bridge open because of the revenue that the tolls bring in," he said.
Boyer added that the toll revenue is important to both sides, as this is what helps to fund the project and other needs from both the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.
The final design portion of the project is slated for sometime in late 2027 or early 2028. No timeline was announced for when construction is to begin.
Nick Butler is an impact reporter for the Courier Post, the Daily Journal and the Burlington County Times covering community news in South Jersey. Have any tips or stories? Reach out to [email protected]. Subscribe to stay in the loop.