Booker Applauds $600 Million Federal Award to Replace Delaware River Bridge Connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania

NEWARK, NJ - U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) applauded the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) award of $600 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's Bridge Investment Program to replace the Delaware River Bridge connecting Florence, New Jersey, and Bristol, Pennsylvania. The Delaware River Bridge Replacement Project is the third phase of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Interstate 95 Interchange Program. The project will modernize a 70-year-old bridge that carries nearly 70,000 vehicles each day and serves as a critical link between two major metropolitan regions.

Booker strongly supported the joint application from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, including submitting a letter to the FHWA during the Biden Administration urging federal investment in the project. In his September 2024 letter, he underscored the bridge's deteriorating condition, its 2017 fracture and emergency closure, the growing traffic demands on the corridor, and the urgent need for a safer, more resilient structure with full shoulders and expanded capacity.

"This is a major win for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the millions of people and businesses that rely on this corridor," said Senator Cory Booker. "Replacing this aging bridge will strengthen regional connectivity, improve safety, and free up state resources for other urgent transportation priorities. I'm proud to have supported this project and grateful for the strong partnership between the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission."

"Part of making government work means 21st Century infrastructure that works for New Jerseyans," said Governor Mikie Sherrill. "The Delaware River Bridge is a critical link for drivers and freight traffic alike. Like so much of the aging infrastructure we've relied on in this region for decades, it needs replacing and modernization. That will not only allow people to get to work and commute efficiently, and avoid frustrating closures, it will keep significant freight traffic flowing to grow our economy and lower costs. I want to thank Senators Booker and Kim and our entire Congressional Delegation for bringing $600 million home to help ensure this project gets done."

"I want to thank Sen. Booker, Sen. Kim, Congressman Conaway, and other elected leaders from both sides of the Delaware River for supporting the efforts of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission to replace this bridge by advocating for this grant," said New Jersey Turnpike Authority Executive Director Kris Kolluri. "The bridge is 70 years old. When a fracture was discovered in a truss in 2017 and the bridge had to be closed to traffic for more than six weeks, we were reminded of just how important a role this bridge plays in the mobility of the region. The Turnpike Authority and the PA Turnpike Commission have been working together to plan for its replacement. This federal grant is an important step toward accomplishing that goal."

"This federal investment will have a significant impact for South Jersey and our entire region," said Congressman Herb Conaway. "For too long, this critical Delaware River crossing has operated with real safety and reliability concerns-something commuters, first responders, and small businesses know all too well. I'm proud to have worked alongside Senator Booker, Senator Kim, and partners on both sides of the river to help deliver this funding, and I'll keep fighting to ensure this project is completed efficiently and with the urgency our communities deserve."

The $1.47 billion project will be financed with funds from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and Pennsylvania, with the federal award covering a substantial share of the remaining cost. Once complete, the new bridge will restore the crossing to a state of good repair, improve freight movement along the East Coast, and enhance long-term resiliency in the Delaware River floodplain. The FHWA's Bridge Investment Program, created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funded this project and was allocated $40 billion over 5 years for bridge projects. This $600 million grant award for the Delaware River Bridge is one of the largest grants ever awarded to New Jersey, outside of the Gateway Program.