Overall project will cost $157.5 million
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
The U.S. Transportation Department announced Thursday that it is providing $18.5 million to help finance the repair of the Delair Bridge, which carries passengers and freight trains between Philadelphia and Pennsauken.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the money will come from the popular TIGER transportation improvement program and will go to the South Jersey Port Corp.
Overall, the repair of the 4,396-foot-long steel lift bridge will cost $157.5 million with $12.5 million coming from Conrail. The bridge crosses the Delaware River near the Betsy Ross Bridge.
When repairs are completed, the bridge is expected to handle an additional 152,000 freight cars weighing as much as 286,000 pounds annually. The freight would be destined in part for the Port of Salem, Paulsboro and Camden. A strong reason for the repair work is to have the bridge ready to handle freight expected to be needed as wind energy is developed off the South Jersey coast.
