Tacony-Palmyra Bridge

The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge is a steel hybrid bridge over the Delaware River between Tacony, Pennsylvania and Palmyra, New Jersey. It opened in 1929 and is one of the many, many historic bridges on the Delaware River to be constructed prior to 1950. Additionally, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge is the oldest bridge in the greater Philadelphia metropolitan area.

The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge is also noted for its hybrid construction. A hybrid bridge is one that consists of multiple, independent bridge types within the same main bridge. The independent types of the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, are, from north to south;


 * A continuous deck truss span
 * A bowstring tied arch main span
 * A truss-supported double leaf bascule span
 * A continuous deck truss span

Additionally, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge is noted for being one of the only moveable bridges on the entire Delaware River. The double-leaf bascule span will open for large freight ships that are too tall or too wide to fit through the bowstring tied arch main span. Because many bridges along the Delaware are not moveable, large ships cannot traverse the river north of Trenton, New Jersey. Therefore, many large ships pass through this area of the river on their way to port in Trenton.

The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge charges a one-way toll westbound, like many Delaware River crossings. However, unlike many other crossings, the toll is $4.00 for vehicles paying cash, but is cheaper at $3.00 for customers of EZ-PASS or another legal equivalent.