Wrightstown Township has joined Upper Makefield in opposing the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission’s plans to replace the Washington Crossing Bridge, a 1904 structure connecting Upper Makefield, with Hopewell, New Jersey, writes Jeff Werner for The Patch.  

The township supervisors recently passed a resolution, which will be sent to local, state, and national representatives, expressing their opposition. 

The commission had earlier issued a request for proposals for engineering and environmental studies to explore replacing the bridge. This move spurred Upper Makefield to pass its resolution and initiate efforts to have the bridge designated as a historic site, including hiring a consultant for the process.

The current bridge’s weight limit, which restricts traffic to passenger vehicles, helps maintain the area’s pedestrian-friendly environment. 

The resolution also points out that a larger bridge could lead to increased traffic, posing risks to pedestrians and disrupting the village’s tranquility with added noise and exhaust.  

Concerns about exacerbated flooding risks due to a bigger bridge were also mentioned. 

As an alternative, Wrightstown proposes retaining the existing bridge with modifications to allow one-way traffic controlled by signals, thereby managing flow without major construction.  

Read more about plans to repair the Washington Crossing Bridge in The Patch. 

Drivers react to possible timeline and upgrades of Washington Crossing Bridge