"It is the longest span of its type in the United States, however, it is the fourth longest span in the world." [Nathan Holth via BridgeHunter] The 1,655' long main span is the third longest according to PhillyRoads. It has a mid-span clearance of 192'.
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| DRPA The navigation span is 800' and the total length is 13,912' (2.6 miles) |
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| LoC It is named after the American Revolutionary War hero and Philadelphia resident John Barry. Along with the Betsy Ross Bridge, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge, the Commodore Barry Bridge is one of the four toll bridges connecting the metropolitan Philadelphia region with southern New Jersey |
The ferry service that this bridge replaced started in 1930 with two boats and was operating four boats by 1949. A crossing took about six minutes to complete and departure intervals were as small as every five minutes on both shores. [BridgesTunnels]
The bridge opened in Feb 1974 and by that Summer "engineers detected vibrations along the main cantilever span. Some of the vibrations were serious enough to twist the upright girders, forming cracks in some of them. Although the engineers did not believe that the vibrations threatened the overall integrity of the superstructure, they recommended that permanent measures be taken. The DRPA undertook the following corrective measures: 1) splicing and welding any deficiencies in the vertical girders and 2) installation of a network of steel support cables so that the bridge beams could withstand wind velocities of up to 70 miles per hour." [PhillyRoads]
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| Culture posted The Commodore Barry Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River, connecting Chester, Pennsylvania, and Bridgeport, New Jersey. It is named after John Barry, an American Revolutionary War naval hero often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy." The bridge is part of U.S. Route 322 and is managed by the Delaware River Port Authority. Opened in 1974, the Commodore Barry Bridge is the longest cantilever bridge on the U.S. East Coast, with a total length of about 13,912 feet (4,240 meters) and a main span of 1,644 feet (501 meters). It stands as a major transportation link between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, helping alleviate traffic congestion on other Delaware River crossings, like the Benjamin Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges. The bridge has five lanes of traffic, with three lanes typically allocated for peak travel directions. It primarily serves commuters, as well as truckers and travelers moving between the Philadelphia metropolitan area and southern New Jersey. With scenic views of the Delaware River, the Commodore Barry Bridge also passes near attractions such as Subaru Park, home to the Philadelphia Union soccer team, and various industrial areas along the waterfront. |
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| Todd Duane posted Descending down to the Philadelphia airport, Commodore Barry Bridge, Chester, PA. |
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| Bridges Now and Then posted Construction on the Commodore Barry Bridge, linking Chester, Pennsylvania and Bridgeport, New Jersey. (Hagley Digital Archives) |
Thank you for publishing this. 1974 was a critical year in Chester history.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any images of the Heart Association run across the bridge, a month or so before it opened for vehicle traffic? My late mother (Ruth Horn) was in charge of the Heart Association of Delaware County, in Media, and organized the event.
ReplyDeleteSorry, no.
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