Residents who want to weigh in on the future of the Washington Crossing Bridge have only a few days left to submit comments on potential replacement or rehabilitation options.
Transportation officials say the public comment period on the Washington Crossing Bridge Alternatives Analysis will close Thursday, March 12, marking the end of the study’s initial “scoping” phase.
The materials under review — including informational display boards shown at public meetings in February — outline the early range of possibilities for addressing the long-standing structural and safety issues on the historic Delaware River crossing.
The display boards and an introductory video explaining the bridge’s deficiencies can be viewed on the project website at washingtoncrossingbridge.com.
The video has been viewed more than 9,000 times since its release in late January.
The public scoping materials were first presented at open house sessions held in Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the second week of February, including a session hosted at the Union Fire Company in Titusville. A total of 186 people signed in at the Pennsylvania session and 94 in New Jersey, though organizers say actual attendance may have been higher.
The comment period is part of the early public outreach stage of a multi-year alternatives analysis being conducted by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission under the federal National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
The study is examining potential long-term solutions for the nearly 200-year-old crossing, including rehabilitation, replacement, repurposing, or taking no action.
The goal of the analysis is to identify a “preferred alternative” that would improve safety and mobility while maintaining a reliable river crossing between Hopewell Township and Upper Makefield, Pennsylvania.
The Washington Crossing Bridge has long been considered one of the most constrained river crossings in the commission’s system. Its roadway is just 15 feet wide, divided into two 7.5-foot travel lanes, leaving little margin for vehicles traveling in opposite directions.
Mirror strikes, sideswipes, and collisions with the bridge structure occur frequently, according to commission officials.
The bridge carries an average of about 6,500 vehicles per day, similar to traffic volumes recorded nearly two decades ago.
A three-ton weight restriction, in place since 1995, is enforced by bridge monitors stationed around the clock near the New Jersey approach. In 2025, more than 1,900 vehicles were turned away for exceeding the limit.
Officials say public comments collected during the scoping phase will help guide the next steps in the environmental review process, including identifying key issues, evaluating alternatives, and determining potential mitigation measures.
Additional public meetings are expected as the study progresses.
Comments can be submitted through a digital form available on the project website or through the site’s contact portal.
