Easton-Phillipsburg Bridge | Phillipsburg

The Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge is a historically and functionally significant structure spanning the Delaware River, connecting the cities of Easton, Pennsylvania, and Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Known officially as the Easton–Phillipsburg Toll Bridge and sometimes referred to by its original name, the Bushkill Street Bridge, this bridge serves as a crucial transportation artery facilitating daily travel, commerce, and regional connectivity between the two states.

Historical Context and Purpose

Constructed during the late 1930s, the bridge was completed and opened to the public on January 14, 1938. Its construction responded to the increasing demand for improved infrastructure driven by rising automobile traffic in the region. Prior to its completion, the older Northampton Street Bridge was the primary crossing point over the Delaware River in this area. However, it had become insufficient to handle the growing volume of vehicles, causing congestion and delays. The Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge was conceived to alleviate this pressure and modernize the transportation network.

The bridge was the first to be built by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, an agency established to oversee bridges crossing the Delaware River between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Its creation represented a major milestone in regional infrastructure development, marking a new era of toll-funded bridges designed to maintain and improve cross-river mobility.

Engineering and Design

The Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge is a remarkable example of early 20th-century engineering, specifically featuring a modified Pennsylvania (Petit) through truss design. This design is characterized by a complex web of steel trusses that provide the structural strength needed to support heavy traffic loads across a long span.

Span and Dimensions: The bridge’s main river span stretches an impressive 540 feet (approximately 164.6 meters). At the time of its completion, this was the longest steel truss span in the United States, holding this record for nearly two decades. The total length of the bridge is about 1,020 feet (310.9 meters), with a width of 40 feet (12.2 meters). This width accommodates four traffic lanes, enabling efficient two-way vehicle movement.

Structural Features: The bridge’s main span is supported by reinforced concrete piers placed in the riverbed. The approach spans, which connect the main span to the land on each side, employ plate-girder and pre-stressed concrete box beam construction methods. This combination of materials and engineering approaches was state-of-the-art in the 1930s, ensuring both durability and strength.

Pedestrian Access: In addition to vehicle lanes, the bridge includes 8-foot-wide concrete sidewalks located outside the steel truss structures on both sides. This design allows safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists, providing connectivity beyond just motor vehicles.

Tolling and Operational Details

The Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge functions as a toll bridge, managed by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. Tolls are collected only for westbound traffic entering Pennsylvania from New Jersey. This system helps fund the ongoing maintenance, operations, and improvements of the bridge.

Toll Rates: As of early 2024, the toll rate for passenger vehicles without electronic toll collection (E-ZPass) is $3.00. Vehicles equipped with E-ZPass pay a discounted toll of $1.50.

Electronic Tolling: The bridge transitioned to all-electronic tolling in January 2025, discontinuing cash payments. This modern system uses cameras and sensors to automatically charge tolls, reducing congestion and improving traffic flow.

Cultural and Historical Importance

Beyond its engineering significance, the Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge is a symbol of the economic and social integration between Easton and Phillipsburg. It supports thousands of daily commuters, freight transport, and regional tourism, contributing to the vitality of both communities.

Historical documentation of the bridge’s construction exists in the form of archival film footage dating from 1936 to 1938. This footage offers a fascinating look at the construction methods and community involvement during the bridge’s development, highlighting the engineering challenges overcome to build this critical infrastructure.

Maintenance and Legacy

The bridge has undergone various maintenance and rehabilitation projects over the decades to ensure its structural integrity and safety for modern traffic demands. Its ongoing preservation reflects the commitment of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to maintain vital cross-river connections that support regional economies.

Summary

In essence, the Easton–Phillipsburg Bridge is more than just a physical structure; it is a testament to innovative engineering, regional collaboration, and forward-looking infrastructure planning during the early automobile era. It continues to play a central role in connecting two states and fostering economic and social ties, while standing as a durable monument to the history of transportation development in the United States.