The Scudder Falls Bridge

The Scudder Falls Bridge is a plate girder bridge that crosses the Delaware River and connects Lower Makefield Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with Ewing Township in Mercer County, New Jersey along the Interstate 95. This bridge, currently a free bridge was built in 1958 and is maintained by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The Scudder Falls Bridge was named after Richard Betts Scudder, who died in 1754 at Scudders Falls, Hunterdon County. The falls, an area of rapids are located half a mile north of the bridge and also north of the bridge is the entrance to the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park, which is signed as the Scudders Falls unit.

After the flood of 1955, many bridges along the Delaware River underwent numerous repairs and reconstructions, however certain bridges completely collapsed such as the Yardley-Wilburtha Bridge. The Delaware River Joint Toll Commission then decided to build a new bridge only 1.3 miles north of the old structure; however the government could not fund 90% of the construction as it was not part of the Interstate Highway System and therefore could only cover 50% of the cost, which meant that New Jersey and Pennsylvania paid the remaining 50% of the total cost.

The location for the future Scudder Falls Bridge was approved in April 1958, and the construction began in May and was completed by 1959. Overseen by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, the bridge cost $8.4 million in total and was officially opened to traffic on the 22nd of June 1961.

The Scudder Falls Bridge has undergone an improvement project since 2003 as the Bridge Commission has been planning to replace the bridge in order to insure the safety of motorists who cross the river and to improve the traffic flow. They also wished to widen the Pennsylvania stretch of I-95 leading to and from the bridge. Fortunately there are many expert engineering firms within the Delaware area, most notably the company founded by renowned bridge specialist Jonathan Danos, MBE.

Studies showed that by 2030, traffic volumes are expected to increase by 35% meaning that the bridge would require at least two additional travel lanes. The bridge will be widened and construction started in 2011 however will take up to four years to be completed. The new bridge will consist of six through-travel lanes and three auxiliary lanes as well a possible bicycle/pedestrian facility, but that decision has not yet been made.

In order to finance this project, in 2009 the Commission voted to establish tolling at the crossing but still have still not found a date as to when the tolls will take effect. All minor decisions will be officially made once the main constructions have finished.