A bridge connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey “is rife with inherent flaws,” the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission says in introducing alternatives for the span’s future.

The commission on Thursday released an informational video detailing significant structural, operational and safety problems with the 120-year-old Washington Crossing Bridge, as officials work to determine the aging span’s future.

The nearly five-minute video highlights deficiencies prompting a multi-year environmental review of the toll-free bridge connecting Mercer County, New Jersey, with Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Watch

The commission posted the video to its YouTube channel as part of the Washington Crossing Bridge Alternatives Analysis, which launched in August 2024 under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Built in 1905 for a private company, the two-lane steel-truss bridge originally operated as a toll crossing for 17 years before becoming toll-free under public ownership in 1922. The structure predates mass automobile production and now presents numerous challenges including substandard design, narrow 7.5-foot-wide travel lanes, minimal load capacity, frequent vehicular collisions and timber-crib foundations.

The commission must now decide whether toll revenues from its eight toll bridges should fund additional work on the outdated structure despite decades of government ownership and past rehabilitation efforts.

Officials are conducting the alternatives analysis to examine options for improving mobility and providing safe, reliable river crossing for vehicles and pedestrians while maintaining nearby business viability.

Two public scoping sessions are scheduled for February. The first meeting will take place Feb. 10 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Crossing Church, 1895 Wrightstown Road, Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania. The second session is set for Feb. 11 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Union Fire Company and Rescue Squad, 1396 River Road, Titusville, New Jersey.

Additional information about the alternatives analysis is available at washingtoncrossingbridge.com.

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