Scudder Falls Bridge

Scudder Falls Bridge
The Scudder Falls Bridge in 2022, six months after being declared substantially complete
Coordinates40°15′31″N 74°50′50″W / 40.25861°N 74.84722°W / 40.25861; -74.84722
Carries7 lanes of I-295
CrossesDelaware River
LocaleLower Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Scudders Falls, Ewing Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Official nameScudder Falls Toll Supported Bridge (original)
Scudder Falls Toll Bridge (replacement)
Maintained byDelaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
Characteristics
DesignPlate girder bridge (original)
Box girder bridge (replacement)
Total length1,740 feet (530 m)
Width60 feet (18 m)
Longest span180 feet (55 m)
History
OpenedJune 22, 1961 (original span)
July 10, 2019 (new upstream span), August 18, 2021 (new downstream span)
ClosedJuly 24, 2019 (original span)
Statistics
Daily traffic52,200
TollWestbound:
$3.00 toll-by-plate for cars
$1.50 E-ZPass for cars
Location

The Scudder Falls Bridge is a toll bridge that carries Interstate 295 (I-295) over the Delaware River, connecting Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with the Scudders Falls section of Ewing Township in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC). The original bridge was a plate girder bridge constructed from 1958 to 1961, and the current structure is a box-girder bridge that partially opened in 2019 and was substantially complete in 2021. Previously, the bridge was a toll-free crossing. However, this changed on July 14, 2019, when an all-electronic toll was levied for Pennsylvania-bound traffic; the toll can be paid using E-ZPass or Toll-by-Plate.

A $534 million replacement project for the bridge was completed, which involved widening I-295 in the area from four lanes to eight, and reconstruction of the interchanges at both ends of the bridge. The first span of the new bridge opened to Pennsylvania-bound traffic on July 10, 2019. New Jersey-bound traffic was moved onto the new span on July 24, 2019, and demolition of the old span began afterwards. The downstream span was opened to New Jersey-bound traffic on August 18, 2021. As well, a shared-use path for bicycle and foot-traffic opened on November 16, 2021.