Downtown in Camden in Camden County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
Although efforts to build a bridge connecting Camden with Philadelphia began in 1818, it wasn't until 1926 that a bridge was completed. Ferries provided transportation across the Delaware River as early as the 1680's and contributed to the growth and development of Camden. In the early twentieth century, the increasing number of ferries on the river and the rise of automobile use created the need for a better crossing.
Both Pennsylvania and New Jersey set up separate commissions to investigate the construction of a new bridge, combining in 1919 to form the Delaware River Bridge Commission. Renowned bridge engineer Ralph Modjeski was selected as chief engineer and legendary architect Paul Philippe Cret was appointed as architect. The result was the world's longest suspension bridge with a main span of 1,750 feet.
Work on the bridge began on January 6, 1922. The foundations for the main towers were constructed using caissons that were sunk to the bottom of the river. Men working inside chambers of the caissons removed material by hand to reach bedrock. The main towers were started in 1923 and completed in 1924. Next, the main cables were constructed using a process known as cable-spinning. 25,000 miles of steel wire were pulled in a loop from end to end, bound tightly together, grouped into strands and compacted
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Opening Ceremonies
On July 1, 1925, more than 25,000 people attend the official opening ceremony of the Delaware River Bridge, with Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot and New Jersey Governor A. Harry Moore presiding. After the ceremony, an estimated 100,000 people walk across the bridge before it opens to vehicular traffic. On July 5, 1926, President Calvin Coolidge (pictured above) arrives to dedicate the bridge.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #30 Calvin Coolidge series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 6, 1922.
Location. 39° 56.95′ N, 75° 7.199′ W. Marker is in Camden, New Jersey, in Camden County. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of North 5th Street and Pearl Street, on the right when traveling north on North 5th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8277 N 5th St, Camden NJ 08102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2024
3. Display inside of the City Hall PATCO Station in Camden, New Jersey
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
In 1919, the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission was created to construct a bridge across the Delaware River connecting New Jersey and Philadelphia. The Delaware River Bridge was completed on July 1, 1926, and was renamed the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in 1956. From the time of its completion in 1926 until 1929, the Delaware River Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The original design called for six vehicular lanes, two streetcar lanes, and provisions for heavy rail in each direction outboard of the bridge's stiffening trusses. The design also specified two pedestrian walks located above the main deck level.
Included in the project design were streetcar stations with elevators integrated into the bridge anchorages. These stations, along with the streetcars, were never commissioned into service on the bridge due to the increased popularity of the automobile along with the limited amount of pedestrian traffic.
Initially, the bridge conveyed 35,000 vehicles a day, with a toll of 25 cents to cross the Delaware River. During its first three months in operation, bridge use increased to two million vehicles, twice the amount forecasted for that period. With traffic volumes continuing to grow through the late 1920s, officials suggested adding two additional traffic lanes in each direction by utilizing the then-unused outboard structures. The proposal, which would have increased vehicular capacity to ten lanes, never progressed beyond the discussion stage.
The provisions for heavy rail were put into place with the expectation that either New Jersey or Pennsylvania would extend their respective systems across the bridge. When this did not occur, the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission decided to construct its own high-speed transit system called the "Bridge Line" connecting Camden and Philadelphia.
On July 17, 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill that created the current Delaware River Port Authority, which succeeded the Delaware River Joint Commission. On September 1967, the Delaware River Port Authority established the Port Authority Transit Corporation to operate the PATCO Speedline, which began service on February 15, 1969, replacing the Bridge Line as the rapid rail service between Southern New Jersey and Center City Philadelphia.
In 1919, the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission was created to construct a bridge across the Delaware River connecting New Jersey and Philadelphia. The Delaware River Bridge was completed on July 1, 1926, and was renamed the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in 1956. From the time of its completion in 1926 until 1929, the Delaware River Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The original design called for six vehicular lanes, two streetcar lanes, and provisions for heavy rail in each direction outboard of the bridge's stiffening trusses. The design also specified two pedestrian walks located above the main deck level.
Included in the project design were streetcar stations with elevators integrated into the bridge anchorages. These stations, along with the streetcars, were never commissioned into service on the bridge due to the increased popularity of the automobile along with the limited amount of pedestrian traffic.
Initially, the bridge conveyed 35,000 vehicles a day, with a toll of 25 cents to cross the Delaware River. During its first three months in operation, bridge use increased to two million vehicles, twice the amount forecasted for that period. With traffic volumes continuing to grow through the late 1920s, officials suggested adding two additional traffic lanes in each direction by utilizing the then-unused outboard structures. The proposal, which would have increased vehicular capacity to ten lanes, never progressed beyond the discussion stage.
The provisions for heavy rail were put into place with the expectation that either New Jersey or Pennsylvania would extend their respective systems across the bridge. When this did not occur, the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission decided to construct its own high-speed transit system called the "Bridge Line" connecting Camden and Philadelphia.
On July 17, 1951, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill that created the current Delaware River Port Authority, which succeeded the Delaware River Joint Commission. On September 1967, the Delaware River Port Authority established the Port Authority Transit Corporation to operate the PATCO Speedline, which began service on February 15, 1969, replacing the Bridge Line as the rapid rail service between Southern New Jersey and Center City Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 9, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 274 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on January 20, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 9, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 20, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
