The Delaware River Port Authority has announced it will mark the 100th anniversary of the Ben Franklin Bridge with a public event on Saturday, July 11.
According to an NBC10 Philadelphia report, the 100th Anniversary Celebration for the Ben Franklin Bridge will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Camden, New Jersey, side near the toll plaza. This event will feature live entertainment, food trucks, and family activities, including a rare opportunity for pedestrians to walk the bridge roadway during the closure.
During the event, vehicular traffic will be halted from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., allowing attendees to enjoy panoramic views of the Philadelphia and Camden skylines.
PATCO will provide enhanced service with trains running every 15 minutes during the event. A shuttle will connect PATCO City Hall Station to the event entrance. Additional shuttle routes to the Philadelphia Bridge Plaza will be provided for Pennsylvania attendees.
The event is free and open to the public on the Camden side of the bridge, with no tickets required.
As part of the celebration, the event will feature one of the four original Winged Victory statues that topped the bridge in 1926, along with photographs, artifacts, and educational displays about its history. Visitors can also explore bridge operations through displays of maintenance equipment, such as the Zipper truck that shifts the moveable barrier to adjust traffic lanes, according to an NJ.com report.
While the event is free, participants are asked to register at drpa.org/BFB100 so the authority knows how many people will attend.
According to an NBC10 report, construction on the bridge began in 1922. The bridge opened in 1926 as the Delaware River Bridge. At the time, it was the world’s longest suspension bridge.
The Ben Franklin Bridge has a history of tolls, rising from 18 cents at its opening to $6 as of 2024.
The bridge has appeared in notable films such as Rocky and National Treasure, underscoring its status as a regional landmark.