One week after the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Ben Franklin Bridge will reach its own milestone when it turns 100 years old.
To commemorate the anniversary, the Delaware River Port Authority announced that the bridge connecting Philadelphia and Camden will close to vehicle traffic on Saturday, July 11. The closure will give visitors access to the bridge during a public celebration planned on the New Jersey side near the toll plaza. If the weather interrupts the event, the rain date is scheduled for Sunday, July 12.
The port authority has not released the exact timing of the traffic closure. Mike Williams, a spokesperson for the authority, said the event is expected to last several hours.
The free celebration will take place on the Camden side of the bridge and is planned as a family-friendly event. Activities will include live music, performances, food trucks and carnival rides. Visitors will also have the opportunity to walk the bridge during the closure.
A pop-up museum will present historical content about the Ben Franklin Bridge, including artifacts and exhibits from across its history. The displays will focus on the bridge’s legacy and development over the past century.
“For a century, the Ben Franklin Bridge has connected Philadelphia and Camden, linking communities, supporting commerce, and moving millions of people across the Delaware River,” the Delaware River Port Authority wrote on its website about the celebration. “Join us as we celebrate this historic milestone and look ahead to the next 100 years.”
John T. Hanson, chief executive officer of the Delaware River Port Authority, described the bridge as an important connection between the two cities in a news release.
“The Ben Franklin Bridge is more than just a crossing; it is a symbol of connection between our communities,” Hanson said. “For 100 years, it has supported the movement of people and goods across the Delaware River, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with the public.”
The closure will affect one of the busiest crossings between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. More than 34 million vehicles cross the bridge each year, an average of about 94,000 vehicles each day. The event is scheduled during the height of the Jersey Shore travel season. Drivers are encouraged to use the Walt Whitman Bridge as an alternate route.
The bridge has closed for public events before. It was shut down for its 75th anniversary celebration in 2001. The span also closed for about two and a half days in September 2015 during the visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. During that visit, the bridge remained open to pedestrians and cyclists while vehicle traffic was restricted.
During the 2015 closure, Adam Arget Singer, 31, of Fishtown, and Liza Graziano, 35, of Fairmount, paused during a ride on a bicycle made for two while crossing the bridge.
The Ben Franklin Bridge opened in 1926 after four and a half years of construction that began in 1922. When it first opened, the structure was known as the Delaware River Bridge.
The span measures 1.8 miles and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time of its opening. According to the Delaware River Port Authority, the bridge was designed to accommodate cars, trains, trolleys, and pedestrians within one structure.
