Centre Bridge-Stockton Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge is a free bridge over the Delaware River
owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
. The bridge connects CR 523
and NJ 29 in Stockton
, in Hunterdon County
, New Jersey
to PA 263
in Centre Bridge
, Solebury Township
, Bucks County, Pennsylvania
.
, as it was the principal route from Philadelphia to New York City
.
In 1829, the bridge was reconstructed. Most of the structure, however, was washed away in the flood of 1841. It was only one of many bridges between Easton
, Pennsylvania
and Trenton
, New Jersey
that was destroyed in the flood. The Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge was rebuilt well enough to be one of the few bridges not washed away by the flood of 1903.
On July 22, 1923, lightning struck the bridge and the resulting fire destroyed the structure.
For two years after the disaster, the Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge saw no repairs. Eventually, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
gained control of the remnants of the bridge, and began rebuilding upon the same piers and abutements on which the first bridge had stood. Having been built higher than before, it escaped damage in the flood of 1955, which damaged many other bridges along the Delaware River. The current steel
truss
bridge was completed in 1926 and opened to traffic in 1927.
Work done on the bridge included blast cleaning and painting the bridge truss, rehabilitating the roadway deck and sidewalk, maing structural repairs, and improving road signs, railings and lighting. As of the middle of May, the total cost of the project was estimated to be $9.4 million.
who in 1898 had purchased and lived in a farm just north of the bridge.
New Jersey composer Frances White has written two compositions about the bridge: Centre Bridge (1999) and Centre Bridge (dark river)(2001). Both were inspired by the sounds of traffic on the metal grating, and both feature recordings of the bridge and 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...
owned and operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate, public agency charged with providing safe, dependable and efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states in 1934. The federal Compact for the...
. The bridge connects CR 523
County Route 523 (New Jersey)
County Route 523 is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Main Street in Stockton to Hillside Avenue in Bedminster Township.-Hunterdon County:...
and NJ 29 in Stockton
Stockton, New Jersey
Stockton is a Borough in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States. The borough sits on the Delaware River at the western end of Amwell Valley...
, in Hunterdon County
Hunterdon County, New Jersey
Hunterdon County is a county located in the western section of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 128,349. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Flemington....
, 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...
to PA 263
Pennsylvania Route 263
Pennsylvania Route 263 is a north–south state highway located in southeast Pennsylvania. The southern terminus of the route is at PA 611 in Willow Grove, Montgomery County. The northern terminus is at PA 32 in Centre Bridge, Bucks County on the banks of the Delaware River near the Centre...
in Centre Bridge
Centre Bridge, Pennsylvania
Centre Bridge is an unincorporated community on the Delaware River in Solebury Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located at the crossroads of River Road and 263), it lies north of New Hope...
, Solebury Township
Solebury Township, Pennsylvania
Solebury Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,692 at the 2010 census.The Solebury School is located in the township, off U.S...
, Bucks County, 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...
.
History
Originally, the Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge was a covered toll bridge. Built in 1814, it was located at the former site of Reading's Ferry. For many years, the route was called Old York RoadOld York Road
Old York Road or King's Highway is a roadway that was built in the 18th century to connect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with New York City, New York. Through New Jersey it was built along the Raritan "Naraticong Trail"...
, as it was the principal route from Philadelphia to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In 1829, the bridge was reconstructed. Most of the structure, however, was washed away in the flood of 1841. It was only one of many bridges between Easton
Easton, Pennsylvania
Easton is a city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 26,800 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Northampton County....
, 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...
and Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, 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...
that was destroyed in the flood. The Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge was rebuilt well enough to be one of the few bridges not washed away by the flood of 1903.
On July 22, 1923, lightning struck the bridge and the resulting fire destroyed the structure.
For two years after the disaster, the Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge saw no repairs. Eventually, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission is a bistate, public agency charged with providing safe, dependable and efficient river crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The DRJTBC was established under legislation enacted in the two states in 1934. The federal Compact for the...
gained control of the remnants of the bridge, and began rebuilding upon the same piers and abutements on which the first bridge had stood. Having been built higher than before, it escaped damage in the flood of 1955, which damaged many other bridges along the Delaware River. The current steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
truss
Truss
In architecture and structural engineering, a truss is a structure comprising one or more triangular units constructed with straight members whose ends are connected at joints referred to as nodes. External forces and reactions to those forces are considered to act only at the nodes and result in...
bridge was completed in 1926 and opened to traffic in 1927.
Rehabilitation Project
In September 2006, the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission awarded Road-Con an $8.4 million contract for the rehabilitation of the Centre Bridge–Stockton Bridge. For five months, the bridge was closed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, remaining fully open only on weekends.Work done on the bridge included blast cleaning and painting the bridge truss, rehabilitating the roadway deck and sidewalk, maing structural repairs, and improving road signs, railings and lighting. As of the middle of May, the total cost of the project was estimated to be $9.4 million.
The bridge in art & music
The fire of 1923 was depicted in a famous painting by Edward Willis RedfieldEdward Willis Redfield
Edward Willis Redfield was an American Impressionist landscape painter and member of the art colony at New Hope, Pennsylvania. He is best known today for his impressionist scenes of the New Hope area, often depicting the snow-covered countryside.Redfield was born in 1869 in Bridgeville, Delaware...
who in 1898 had purchased and lived in a farm just north of the bridge.
New Jersey composer Frances White has written two compositions about the bridge: Centre Bridge (1999) and Centre Bridge (dark river)(2001). Both were inspired by the sounds of traffic on the metal grating, and both feature recordings of the bridge and river.