N.J.-Pa. Bridge Upgrade Plan May Include Tolls

One of the last toll-free bridges across the Delaware River would charge truck tolls of $4 an axle under a plan to seek private investors to rebuild and operate the Interstate 95 Bridge that connects Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Pennsylvania Gov. Edward Rendell (D) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) said that without private investment, the two states cannot afford to rebuild the 50-year-old four-lane bridge.

The $310 million proposed rebuilding project announced Friday calls for three lanes in each direction, plus auxiliary lanes and a wider median. Cars are expected to pay tolls of $1 to $2.

The Scudder Falls Bridge is operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The governors said they will ask the commission to begin drawing up plans for a public-private partnership.

Nearly 60,000 vehicles a day cross the bridge, on which about 100 crashes occur annually, the governors’ announcement said.