The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission announced an updated construction schedule and a project-phasing plan for the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge Rehabilitation Project that would enable uninterrupted pedestrian travel across the bridge for the project’s duration. Project construction activities began January 30.

The project contractor’s plan further ensures continuous Pennsylvania-bound vehicular crossings at the bridge. The Commission wanted project work sequenced in a manner that would prevent the free bridge’s Pennsylvania-bound commuters from being forced to use the nearby New Hope-Lambertville (Route 202) Toll Bridge, which is tolled in the Pennsylvania-bound direction.

New Jersey-bound vehicular travel at the free bridge, however, will now be subject to a continuous eight-month long detour to the nearby toll bridge, which is un-tolled in the Route 202-northbound direction for travel to Lambertville and other New Jersey destinations. The New Jersey-bound detour is expected to continue without interruption through September.

The bridge’s eight-foot-wide walkway is anticipated to remain open until some point in July, when it will be shut down for replacement. During the walkway closure, the contractor plans to install a temporary six-foot-wide walkway surface on the bridge’s road deck. This would remain in place through September, when the bridge walkway replacement work is expected to reach completion. The Commission also has committed to providing a temporary courtesy shuttle during the walkway replacement period.

More information about the project may be found on the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission website: http://www.drjtbc.org/project/newhopelambertville