DRPA Commissioners Approve Walt Whitman Bridge Redecking Project
The largest capital improvement project ever undertaken by the DRPA has received the approval
of the Board of Commissioners who govern the bi-state agency. The board approved two
contracts totaling $139,774,286.67 to both redeck the Walt Whitman Bridge and monitor
construction of the project. A $128,085.778.00 construction contract was awarded to the
American Bridge Company of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania. An $11,688,508.67 construction
monitoring contract was awarded to the joint venture of Urban Engineers Inc./URS Corporation of
Philadelphia.
The redecking project includes the removal of the suspended span, installation of a new
lightweight concrete filled jointless grid deck, structure improvements, new parapets and a new
steel shell movable barrier.
According to DRPA CEO, John J. Matheussen, "Redecking the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of
the cornerstones of our five year one billion dollar capital budget. This project will result in an
entirely new deck over the Delaware River using state of the art technology."
The bridge is 53 years old first opening to traffic on May 16th, 1957.
In 2009, 40 million vehicles crossed the bridge.
DRPA Acting Chief Engineer, Michael Venuto, says "preliminary work will begin in August and the
entire project should be completed by the end of the summer of 2014." Venuto adds "there will
be long term lane closures for 35 months starting in the spring of 2011."
According to Matheussen, "we will be working hard to minimize inconvenience to our customers
during the entire project with specific emphasis placed on the long term lane closures."
Matheussen continues "the Authority is investigating several ways to keep the public informed
throughout the entire construction process. This includes developing a project website, notices in
E-Z Pass bills, handouts to drivers using the bridge and reinstituting a highway alert radio system
first used in the mid-90s."
DRPA COO, Tim Pulte, says "once this project is completed the Walt Whitman Bridge will be as
modern and up to date as any bridge being built today." Pulte adds "it's like building a new bridge
without the cost of new construction."
The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation agency. DRPA owns and operates
the Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges, PATCO and
the Philadelphia Cruise Terminal. The DRPA also owns the RiverLink Ferry.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: May 19, 2010
CONTACT: Ed Kasuba
856-968-2221
DRPA COMMISSIONERS APPROVE WALT WHITMAN BRIDGE
REDECKING PROJECT
The largest capital improvement project ever undertaken by the DRPA has received the approval of the
Board of Commissioners who govern the bi-state agency. The board approved two contracts totaling
$139,774,286.67 to both redeck the Walt Whitman Bridge and monitor construction of the project. A
$128,085.778.00 construction contract was awarded to the American Bridge Company of Coraopolis,
Pennsylvania. An $11,688,508.67 construction monitoring contract was awarded to the joint venture of Urban
Engineers Inc./URS Corporation of Philadelphia.
The redecking project includes the removal of the suspended span, installation of a new lightweight
concrete filled jointless grid deck, structure improvements, new parapets and a new steel shell movable barrier.
According to DRPA CEO, John J. Matheussen, “Redecking the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of the
cornerstones of our five year one billion dollar capital budget. This project will result in an entirely new deck
over the Delaware River using state of the art technology.” The bridge is 53 years old first opening to traffic
on May 16th, 1957. In 2009, 40 million vehicles crossed the bridge.
DRPA Acting Chief Engineer, Michael Venuto, says “preliminary work will begin in August and the
entire project should be completed by the end of the summer of 2014.” Venuto adds “there will be long term
lane closures for 35 months starting in the spring of 2011.”
DRPA is an equal opportunity employer
Mailing Address: PO Box 1949 Camden New Jersey 08101-1949
Telephone: 856.968.2221 Fax: 856.968.2226
215.218.3750
According to Matheussen, “we will be working hard to minimize inconvenience to our customers
during the entire project with specific emphasis placed on the long term lane closures.” Matheussen continues
“the Authority is investigating several ways to keep the public informed throughout the entire construction
process. This includes developing a project website, notices in E-Z Pass bills, handouts to drivers using the
bridge and reinstituting a highway alert radio system first used in the mid-90s.”
DRPA COO, Tim Pulte, says “once this project is completed the Walt Whitman Bridge will be as
modern and up to date as any bridge being built today.” Pulte adds “it’s like building a new bridge without the
cost of new construction”
The Delaware River Port Authority is a regional transportation agency. DRPA owns and operates the
Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Commodore Barry and Betsy Ross Bridges, PATCO and the Philadelphia
Cruise Terminal. The DRPA also owns the RiverLink Ferry.
Walt Whitman Bridge
Fact Sheet
Connects: Philadelphia to Gloucester City, NJ
Began Construction: August 1953
Opened to traffic: May 16, 1957
2009 Total Two Way Traffic: 40 million
2009 Bridge Revenue: $96.3 million
Initial Investment: $86.9 million
Travel width (curb to curb): 79 feet
Number of lanes: 7
Modes of Transportation: 1. The bridge provides vehicular lanes only.
Length (abutment to abutment): 11,981 feet
Navigable channel width: 800 feet
Navigable channel depth: 40 feet
Structural steel weight: 57,674 ton
Foundation type: Caisson (main piers), and piles (approach piers)
Type of connection: Weld (shop) and bolt (field)
Roadway surface: Asphalt
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