Burlington County Bridge Commission
Encyclopedia
The Burlington County Bridge Commission is a public agency responsible for the operation and maintenance of several bridges in Burlington County
, New Jersey
across the Delaware River
. It now manages eight bridges, including the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
, the Burlington-Bristol Bridge
, and the Riverside-Delanco Bridge
. Minor bridges operated by the Commission are the Pennsauken Creek Bridge, Pompeston Creek Bridge, Route 73 Overpass, Swede Run Bridge and the Twin Pipe Culvert, all along County Route 543
.
Tolls are collected in New Jersey for traffic heading towards Pennsylvania
at the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol Bridges. No tolls are collected for traffic crossing into New Jersey. Tolls range from $2.00 for two-axle cars, vans, light pick-up trucks and motorcycles, up to $22.50 for five-axle trucks. E-ZPass
is accepted for payment of tolls.
created the Burlington County Bridge Commission on October 22, 1948, and simultaneously approved the purchase by the Commission of the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra Bridges from a private company.
In 1962, the Commission built a single span bridge over Route 73 and a multi-span bridge over Pennsauken Creek
, on River Road.
In 1966, the Commission became responsible for almost seven miles of roadway on County Route 543
(River Road), from Route 73 in Palmyra
to the halfway house in Delran, including the three bridges/structures that crossed over Pompeston Creek, Swede Run and Twin Pipe Culvert. This acquisition also included the movable Riverside-Delanco Bridge across the Rancocas Creek
. This arrangement with the County was agreed upon by the Commission because River Road was considered to be a "feeder road" for both the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra Bridges.
Of the eight bridges, the Commission has one each of the three standard types of movable bridges. The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge has a double leaf bascule span
, the Burlington-Bristol Bridge has a vertical lift span and the Riverside-Delanco Bridge has a horizontal swing
span.
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
across the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
. It now manages eight bridges, including the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
The Tacony–Palmyra Bridge is a combination steel arch, double-leaf bascule bridge across the Delaware River, connecting New Jersey Route 73 in Palmyra, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Route 73 in the Tacony section of Philadelphia. The bridge has a total length of 3,659 feet and spans 2,324 feet . It...
, the Burlington-Bristol Bridge
Burlington-Bristol Bridge
The Burlington–Bristol Bridge is a truss bridge with a lift span crossing the Delaware River from Burlington, New Jersey to Bristol Township, Pennsylvania in the United States. Construction of the bridge started on April 1, 1930, and the bridge opened to traffic on May 2, 1931...
, and the Riverside-Delanco Bridge
Riverside-Delanco Bridge
The Riverside–Delanco Bridge is a truss bridge with a central swing span that carries County Route 543 across the Rancocas Creek, between Riverside and Delanco in New Jersey. The current bridge was built in 1934-1935 to replace the 1901 bridge, which itself replaced an 1870 structure...
. Minor bridges operated by the Commission are the Pennsauken Creek Bridge, Pompeston Creek Bridge, Route 73 Overpass, Swede Run Bridge and the Twin Pipe Culvert, all along County Route 543
County Route 543 (New Jersey)
County Route 543, abbreviated CR 543, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Federal Street in Camden to Wrightstown-Georgetown Road in Mansfield Township.-Camden County:...
.
Tolls are collected in New Jersey for traffic heading towards Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
at the Tacony-Palmyra and Burlington-Bristol Bridges. No tolls are collected for traffic crossing into New Jersey. Tolls range from $2.00 for two-axle cars, vans, light pick-up trucks and motorcycles, up to $22.50 for five-axle trucks. E-ZPass
E-ZPass
E-ZPass is an electronic toll-collection system used on most tolled roads, bridges, and tunnels in the northeastern US, south to Virginia and West Virginia, and west to Illinois. Currently, there are 25 agencies spread across 14 states that make up the . All member agencies use the same technology,...
is accepted for payment of tolls.
History
The Burlington County Board of Chosen FreeholdersBoard of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
created the Burlington County Bridge Commission on October 22, 1948, and simultaneously approved the purchase by the Commission of the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra Bridges from a private company.
In 1962, the Commission built a single span bridge over Route 73 and a multi-span bridge over Pennsauken Creek
Pennsauken Creek
Pennsauken Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in Burlington and Camden counties, New Jersey in the United States.Pennsauken Creek drains of southwestern Burlington County and northern Camden County and joins the Delaware River near Palmyra....
, on River Road.
In 1966, the Commission became responsible for almost seven miles of roadway on County Route 543
County Route 543 (New Jersey)
County Route 543, abbreviated CR 543, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Federal Street in Camden to Wrightstown-Georgetown Road in Mansfield Township.-Camden County:...
(River Road), from Route 73 in Palmyra
Palmyra, New Jersey
Palmyra is a Borough in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the borough population was 7,091.Palmyra was originally incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on April 19, 1894, from portions of Cinnaminson Township and Riverton...
to the halfway house in Delran, including the three bridges/structures that crossed over Pompeston Creek, Swede Run and Twin Pipe Culvert. This acquisition also included the movable Riverside-Delanco Bridge across the Rancocas Creek
Rancocas Creek
Rancocas Creek is a tributary of the Delaware River in southwestern New Jersey in the United States. The creek's main stem is long, with a North Branch of and a South Branch flowing...
. This arrangement with the County was agreed upon by the Commission because River Road was considered to be a "feeder road" for both the Burlington-Bristol and Tacony-Palmyra Bridges.
Of the eight bridges, the Commission has one each of the three standard types of movable bridges. The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge has a double leaf bascule span
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
, the Burlington-Bristol Bridge has a vertical lift span and the Riverside-Delanco Bridge has a horizontal swing
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
span.