The Upper Black Eddy-Milford Bridge, which opened to traffic on Saturday, January 13, 1934, is approaching its 90th anniversary, writes Jay Edwards for WRNJ Radio.

The toll-supported bridge was constructed by the construction company McClintic-Marshall of Bethlehem in 1933 under an $89,970 low-bid contract approved by the former Joint Commission for Elimination of Toll Bridges – Pennsylvania–New Jersey.

It was designed by Edwin W. Denzler, a World War I veteran and later the Bridge Commission’s chief engineer.

The construction of the bridge took place between June 1933 and January 1934. The result was a three-span steel Warren through-truss with polygonal top chords superstructure along with a concrete-filled-steel-grid road surface.

The bridge was built on top of the recapped stone piers and abutments that were previously used to support a wooden covered bridge constructed in the mid-nineteenth century.

At the time it was completed, the bridge was owned by both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1987, ownership of the bridge was transferred directly to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which had operated and maintained the bridge on behalf of the two states from late 1934 until that point.

Read more about the Upper Black Eddy-Milford bridge and its history on WRNJ Radio.

Upper Black Eddy-Milford Timber Bridge Demo 1933