The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge closed to drivers and pedestrians Thursday afternoon, Nov. 12, after a cargo ship struck the Delaware River crossing. The bridge carries Route 73 between the Tacony neighborhood of Philadelphia and Palmyra, New Jersey. The Burlington County Bridge Commission said the closure would last until further notice.
Pennsylvania state Rep. Ed Neilson said the drawbridge could not close after the strike and traffic backed up on the Philadelphia side. He said no injuries had been reported. There was no confirmed reopening time Thursday afternoon.
Where drivers can cross instead
The New Jersey Department of Transportation lists the Betsy Ross Bridge as a Route 90 crossing between Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey. Drivers farther north can check the Burlington-Bristol Bridge, which connects Burlington County Route 541 and Pennsylvania Route 413. Neither of those two bridges has a pedestrian or bicycle crossing, according to NJDOT.
Check Pennsylvania’s 511 map and New Jersey’s travel information before choosing a route. Traffic can build at other crossings when Route 73 is closed. Flash flooding also hit I-76 and other roads in the Philadelphia area on Thursday. Check the roads leading to your alternate crossing as well as the bridge itself. If you normally cross on foot or walk a bicycle across the Tacony-Palmyra walkway, check transit options before setting out.
