Yesterday, Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials reported that the Delaware Memorial Bridge Twin Spans continues to break milestone traffic records in 2020. For the month of January and February 2020, the Bridge handled 1,315,342 and 1,245,122 vehicles respectively through the southbound toll plaza. The previous January record of 1,307,045 was established in 2006 while February’s prior record of 1,231,045 was set in 2004.
The Delaware Memorial Bridge has now registered nine consecutive months of record traffic volume dating back to June 2019. Record breaking bridge traffic stats have also been logged in ten of the past twelve months. For the first two months of 2020, total Bridge traffic was 2,560,464 vehicles, a 6.6% increase compared to the same period last year.
According to Thomas J. Cook, Executive Director for the DRBA, the continued rise in total traffic using the Delaware Memorial Bridge can probably be traced to a number of factors. “Not only has this winter been one of the warmest on record, but our region also didn’t encounter any measurable snow or ice storms that alter travel plans and negatively impact our traffic,” Cook said. “Combining the favorable weather conditions with a strong economy and low, reasonable gas prices, the Bridge continues to register positive year-over-year growth in all vehicle classes.”
Cook also noted that the Delaware Memorial Bridge is well-equipped to handle the ever-increasing traffic volume. “Last year, we conducted a comprehensive load rating analysis on the Twin Spans,” Cook added. “Due to the Authority’s effective and on-going maintenance and capital improvement programs, these Spans continue to be able to handle the weight present even if all eight lanes were full of vehicles from one side of the bridge to the other.”
In 2019, the Delaware Memorial Bridge registered more than 18 million vehicles in a calendar year for the first time ever, logging 18,288,314 vehicles through the southbound toll plaza. The Bridge also set numerous records, including best single month in history, the most number of 60,000+ days in one year, highest traffic volume for a weekend period (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) set on August 16-18, and the first time October and November ever topped 1.5 million vehicles.
About the Delaware River and Bay Authority
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing. The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers – two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (New Castle Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities. For more information, visit www.drba.net.
Source: DRBA