Betsy Ross Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Betsy Ross Bridge is a continuous truss bridge
spanning the Delaware River
from Philadelphia to Pennsauken, New Jersey. It was originally planned as the Delair Bridge
, after a paralleling vertical lift bridge owned by Pennsylvania Railroad
(now used by Conrail and NJ Transit
's Atlantic City Line
), but was instead named for Betsy Ross
, reputed creator of the first American flag
, making it only the second bridge in the United States to be named after a woman (after Iowa's Kate Shelley High Bridge
in 1912 http://www.arema.org/eseries/scriptcontent/custom/e_arema/library/2003_Conference_Proceedings/0048.pdf).
" ghost ramps – unfinished bridges and fly-over ramps, some of which were later constructed to serve Aramingo Avenue in the city's Bridesburg
section. Currently, the route serves as a high-level multi-lane (six lanes, separated by a concrete median barrier) bypass of the three-lane Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
, which has a drawbridge
on the span.
Construction in 1988 connected the bridge to New Jersey Route 90, allowing drivers to use NJ 90 to access Route 73, rather than via U.S. Route 130
.
The bridge has a total length of 8,485 feet (2,586 m), and a main span of 729 feet (222 m). Though originally constructed with eight lanes, the bridge was reduced to six lanes with two shoulder
s in 2000. The bridge is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority
.
When approaching the exits from I-95 in Philadelphia for this bridge, drivers see signs referring to NJ Route 90. Beyond the toll plaza, which is on the New Jersey side, NJ 90 continues as an expressway with maximum speed limit of 50 mi/h, and in a few miles ends with a merge onto southbound NJ 73. The toll plaza (westbound tolls only) is 12 lanes wide, and since 2010 has been a participating E-ZPass
facility.
tag that crosses one of the four DRPA bridges 18 times in a calendar month. Trucks, Commercial vehicles, mobile homes and recreation vehicles (weighing at least 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg). gross vehicle weight), pay $7 cash per axle. Seniors aged 65 and over can use a ticket program to pay $2.00 per trip (not integrated with E-ZPass)
Continuous truss bridge
A continuous truss bridge is a truss bridge which extends without hinges or joints across three or more supports. A continuous truss bridge may use less material than a series of simple trusses because a continuous truss distributes live loads across all the spans; in a series of simple trusses,...
spanning the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
from Philadelphia to Pennsauken, New Jersey. It was originally planned as the Delair Bridge
Delair Bridge
The Delair Bridge is a lift bridge carrying the New Jersey Transit Atlantic City Line and a former Conrail line, now a shared asset between Norfolk Southern Railway and CSX Transportation. It crosses the Delaware River between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pennsauken Township, New Jersey, just...
, after a paralleling vertical lift bridge owned by Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
(now used by Conrail and NJ Transit
New Jersey Transit
The New Jersey Transit Corporation is a statewide public transportation system serving the United States state of New Jersey, and New York, Orange, and Rockland counties in New York State...
's Atlantic City Line
Atlantic City Line
The Atlantic City Line is a rail line operated by New Jersey Transit between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Atlantic City, New Jersey, operating along the corridor of the White Horse Pike. It runs over trackage that was controlled by both the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania-Reading...
), but was instead named for Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross
Betsy Ross is widely credited with making the first American flag. There is, however, no credible historical evidence that the story is true.-Early life:...
, reputed creator of the first American flag
Betsy Ross flag
The Betsy Ross flag is an early design of the flag of the United States, popularly attributed to Betsy Ross, using the common motifs of alternating red-and-white striped field with five-pointed stars in a blue canton. The flag was designed during the American Revolution and features 13 stars to...
, making it only the second bridge in the United States to be named after a woman (after Iowa's Kate Shelley High Bridge
Kate Shelley High Bridge
The Kate Shelley High Bridge is among the highest double-track railroad bridges in the United States. It is located approximately 3 miles west of the city of Boone, Iowa....
in 1912 http://www.arema.org/eseries/scriptcontent/custom/e_arema/library/2003_Conference_Proceedings/0048.pdf).
History
Construction began in 1969, and was completed in 1974. However, the bridge did not open to traffic until April 1976 due to numerous problems with the communities where the bridge's ramps to and from Richmond Street were located. The problems (concerns over traffic, especially heavy trucks) were also related to the route's planned extension across Northeast Philadelphia to the Roosevelt Expressway. The cancellation of this extension, the planned PA 90 (Pulaski Expressway) resulted in so-called "Evel KnievelEvel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
" ghost ramps – unfinished bridges and fly-over ramps, some of which were later constructed to serve Aramingo Avenue in the city's Bridesburg
Bridesburg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bridesburg is the last river-front neighborhood before the Northeast section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States begins. Bridesburg has a significant Polish community and continues to be a destination from incoming immigrants from Poland to live...
section. Currently, the route serves as a high-level multi-lane (six lanes, separated by a concrete median barrier) bypass of the three-lane Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
The Tacony–Palmyra Bridge is a combination steel arch, double-leaf bascule bridge across the Delaware River, connecting New Jersey Route 73 in Palmyra, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Route 73 in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. The bridge has a total length of 3,659 feet and spans 2,324 feet . It...
, which has a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
on the span.
Construction in 1988 connected the bridge to New Jersey Route 90, allowing drivers to use NJ 90 to access Route 73, rather than via U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130
U.S. Route 130 is a north–south U.S. Highway completely within the state of New Jersey. It runs from Interstate 295 and US 40 at Deepwater in Pennsville Township, Salem County, where the road continues east as Route 49, north to US 1 in North Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, where...
.
The bridge has a total length of 8,485 feet (2,586 m), and a main span of 729 feet (222 m). Though originally constructed with eight lanes, the bridge was reduced to six lanes with two shoulder
Shoulder (road)
A hard shoulder, or simply shoulder, is a reserved area by the verge of a road or motorway. Generally it is kept clear of motor vehicle traffic...
s in 2000. The bridge is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority
Delaware River Port Authority
The Delaware River Port Authority is a bi-state instrumentality created by a Congressionally approved interstate compact between the governments of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey...
.
When approaching the exits from I-95 in Philadelphia for this bridge, drivers see signs referring to NJ Route 90. Beyond the toll plaza, which is on the New Jersey side, NJ 90 continues as an expressway with maximum speed limit of 50 mi/h, and in a few miles ends with a merge onto southbound NJ 73. The toll plaza (westbound tolls only) is 12 lanes wide, and since 2010 has been a participating E-ZPass
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
facility.
Tolls
A $5.00 one-way toll is charged entering Pennsylvania for passenger vehicles (less than 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg) gross vehicle weight). A $12 credit will be given on a per tag basis for any DRPA-issued E-ZPassE-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
tag that crosses one of the four DRPA bridges 18 times in a calendar month. Trucks, Commercial vehicles, mobile homes and recreation vehicles (weighing at least 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg). gross vehicle weight), pay $7 cash per axle. Seniors aged 65 and over can use a ticket program to pay $2.00 per trip (not integrated with E-ZPass)