Walt Whitman Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Walt Whitman Bridge is a green-colored single-level suspension bridge
spanning the Delaware River
from Philadelphia to Gloucester City, New Jersey
. Named after the poet Walt Whitman
, who resided in nearby Camden
toward the end of his life, the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of the larger bridges on the east coast of the United States
. The bridge is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port Authority
.
Construction on the bridge began in 1953, and it opened to traffic on May 16, 1957. The bridge has a total length of 11981 feet (3,651.8 m), and a main span of 610 metres (2,001.3 ft). The bridge has seven lanes, three in each direction and a center lane that is shifted variably (via a zipper barrier
) to accommodate heavy traffic.
The bridge is a part of Interstate 76
(at milepost 351.98) (which, between the river and the Pennsylvania Turnpike
interchange in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
, is known as the "Schuylkill Expressway"). Along with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge
, Betsy Ross Bridge
, Delaware Memorial Bridge
, and Commodore Barry Bridge
, the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of five expressway
-standard bridges connecting the Philadelphia area with southern New Jersey
.
The bridge was designed by noted civil engineer Othmar Ammann
.
. A $12 credit used to be given on a per tag basis for any DRPA-issued E-ZPass
tag that crosses one of the four DRPA bridges 18 times in a calendar month, this was removed during the bridge reconstruction budget increase. Trucks, commercial vehicles, mobile homes and recreation vehicles (weighing at least 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg). gross vehicle weight) pay $6 per axle. Seniors aged 65 and over can use a ticket program to pay $2.00 per trip (not integrated with E-ZPass).
There is no toll for eastbound vehicles traveling from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.
Suspension bridge
A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
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 Gloucester City, New Jersey
Gloucester City, New Jersey
Gloucester City is a city in Camden County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 11,456.-Geography:Gloucester City is located at ....
. Named after the poet Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse...
, who resided in nearby Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
toward the end of his life, the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of the larger bridges on the east coast of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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...
.
Construction on the bridge began in 1953, and it opened to traffic on May 16, 1957. The bridge has a total length of 11981 feet (3,651.8 m), and a main span of 610 metres (2,001.3 ft). The bridge has seven lanes, three in each direction and a center lane that is shifted variably (via a zipper barrier
Barrier transfer machine
Barrier transfer machines, also known as zipper machines, are heavy vehicles used to transfer Jersey barriers or other concrete lane dividers used to relieve traffic congestion during rush hours....
) to accommodate heavy traffic.
The bridge is a part of Interstate 76
Interstate 76 (east)
Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west of Akron, Ohio, east to Interstate 295 near Camden, New Jersey....
(at milepost 351.98) (which, between the river and the Pennsylvania Turnpike
Pennsylvania Turnpike
The Pennsylvania Turnpike is a toll highway system operated by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. The three sections of the turnpike system total . The main section extends from Ohio to New Jersey and is long...
interchange in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
King of Prussia is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after...
, is known as the "Schuylkill Expressway"). Along with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge , originally named the Delaware River Bridge, is a suspension bridge across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey...
, Betsy Ross Bridge
Betsy Ross Bridge
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 , but was instead named for Betsy Ross, reputed creator...
, Delaware Memorial Bridge
Delaware Memorial Bridge
The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River. The toll bridges carry Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40 between Delaware and New Jersey...
, and Commodore Barry Bridge
Commodore Barry Bridge
The Commodore Barry Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River from Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport, in Logan Township, New Jersey, USA...
, the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of five expressway
Limited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
-standard bridges connecting the Philadelphia area with southern New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
The bridge was designed by noted civil engineer Othmar Ammann
Othmar Ammann
Othmar Hermann Ammann was a American structural engineer whose designs include the George Washington Bridge, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Bayonne Bridge.-Biography:...
.
Tolls
A $5.00 one-way toll is charged to westbound passenger vehicles (less than 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg) gross vehicle weight) traveling from New Jersey to PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. A $12 credit used to be given on a per tag basis for any DRPA-issued 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,...
tag that crosses one of the four DRPA bridges 18 times in a calendar month, this was removed during the bridge reconstruction budget increase. Trucks, commercial vehicles, mobile homes and recreation vehicles (weighing at least 7000 lb (3,175.1 kg). gross vehicle weight) pay $6 per axle. Seniors aged 65 and over can use a ticket program to pay $2.00 per trip (not integrated with E-ZPass).
There is no toll for eastbound vehicles traveling from Pennsylvania to New Jersey.