Crossing

• Crosses the Delaware River between the cities of Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA

Building

• Built by the Burlington-Bristol Bridge Company after receiving approval from the US Congress and US War Department

Construction

• Construction began in April 1930
• Bridge opened to traffic May 2, 1931
• Comprised of several different type of structures:
– A long through-truss span at the middle of the river
– Other adjacent through-truss spans
– Stringer spans and deck truss spans

Cost

• Cost to build was slightly more than $1.5 million
• Acquired in 1948 by its present owners, the Burlington County Bridge Commission
• No tax money from Burlington County residents is used to maintain this bridge

Clearance/Openings

• Vertical clearance under the main lift span at the center is 61 feet at high tide

• Marine vessels requiring a vertical clearance greater than that of the movable span in its normally closed position must request a bridge opening.  When the lift span is raised mechanically to permit passage of the vessel, concrete counterweights are lowered at each end of the span to maintain a balanced condition.  Vehicular traffic is temporarily stopped until the vessel clears the bridge; the span then resumes its normal lowered position