New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge will be improved
NEW HOPE — The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has announced that Monday, June 10, is the target start date for a multi-faceted repaving and repair project on the approach roadways, overpasses and ramps that carry traffic to and from the agency’s New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge.
The first travel impacts will be as follows:
— Lane shifts be put into effect along both directions of Route 202 on the Pennsylvania side of the toll bridge. The changed roadway geometry is not expected to cause any delays for motorists.
— Closure of the ramp that carries traffic from River Road/(Route 32) to Route 202North. A detour will be put into effect, directing motorists to access Route 202 north via the nearby Lower York Road extension.
The project eventually will involve work on both sides of the toll bridge, which — despite its name — actually connects Delaware Township (New Jersey) with Solebury Township (Pennsylvania).
Completion is expected to be achieved in the late fall.
One unique aspect of the project is that it will mark the first time the commission uses a relatively new paving technique called emulsified foamed asphalt. Foamed asphalt technology actually was invented several decades ago and has been widely used in Europe for some time, but its use in the United States has been a more recent development.
At New Hope-Lambertville, it will enable the commission to cut project paving costs by 30percent — $3 million to $4 million — as compared to the conventional method of milling a road and repaving it with new hot asphalt. In addition to being more economical, foamed asphalt saves time and is more environmentally sound since nearly 100 percent of the old road surface gets immediately recycled.
The project will involve some lane closures and detours, but traffic impacts and travel delays are expected to be minor.
The project’s major construction elements include:
— Rehabilitation, repair and repaving of Route 202 approach roadway segments leading to and from the toll bridge in New Jersey and Pennsylvania;
— Rehabilitation, repair and repaving of associated on/off ramps to PA Route 32 and NJ Route 29;
— Repointing, joint sealing and concrete repairs to the overpass that carries Route 202across Route 32/River Road in Pennsylvania;
— Extensive repairs on the approach bridge that carries Route 202 across Route 29 in New Jersey, including repair of deteriorated concrete, blast cleaning and repainting of structural steel members, deck joint work, and replacement of 16 bearings — the structural steel devices that transfer the bridge’s deck load to the masonry abutments below.
A detailed project webpage may be accessed from the projects sub-head at www.drjtbc.com or directly at www.drjtbc.org/route202approaches.
It explains why the multi-faceted project is needed, outlines the major construction components, and provides photographs and a map of the project area.
The construction contract was awarded in March for $6,683,640.40 to James D. Morrissey, Inc. of Philadelphia, the lowest responsible bidder.
The New Hope-Lambertville Toll Bridge, opened in 1971, is the sixth of the agency’s seven toll bridges.
For more information about the commission and its various initiatives to deliver safer and more convenient bridge travel for its customers, see: www.drjtbc.org.

