In the coming months, crews using a small boat will begin repairs to the piers of the Washington Crossing Toll-Supported Bridge.
The bridge repairs are part of a broader project to repair several 19th-century river crossings over the Delaware River.
Officials from the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission confirmed that the bridge, connecting Upper Makefield Township and Hopewell Township will remain open as it receives masonry repairs to the piers’ mortar and stone.
The Washington Crossing Toll-Supported Bridge has several mid-19th-century piers and a single reinforced-concrete pier. The oldest piers date back to 1833 and 1834.
The repairs are part of a 30-week program that will continue into 2025 and take place on several bridges.
Repair efforts are underway at the Lumberville-Raven Rock Toll-Supported Pedestrian Bridge between Solebury Township in Bucks County and Delaware Township in Hunterdon County, where workers began addressing loose stones and faulty mortar in July.
Additionally, the commission plans similar work on the Riverton-Belvidere and Calhoun Street bridges.
The need for these repairs was highlighted during recent inspections.
As the work prepares to shift to the Washington Crossing Toll-Supported Bridge, members are the community are pressuring the commission not to replace the span over the Delaware River.
The commission will be conducting surveys to determine what the future of the bridge will be.
