Delair Bridge

Delair Bridge is a steel railway bridge spanning the Delaware River and connecting Philadelphia with Pennsauken Township in New Jersey. It features two fixed steel spans and a movable vertical lift section in the center that allows river traffic to pass underneath.

Built in 1896 by the Pennsylvania Railroad, it was the first railroad crossing between Philadelphia and New Jersey over the Delaware River. A new vertical lift section replaced the original middle span in 1958 to better accommodate river navigation.

The bridge links two communities across the river through a shared transportation route that has shaped regional development. Local train services continue to use it daily, making it part of the rhythms of commuter life in the region.

Access to the bridge itself is restricted to rail traffic, as it remains an active railway corridor. Visitors can view it from nearby riverbanks and adjacent bridges to see its steel structure and moving center section.

When rebuilt in 1958, engineers installed the new vertical lift span as a single prefabricated piece rather than assembling it on site. This approach kept both river navigation and rail traffic moving with minimal interruption during the major overhaul.

Location: Philadelphia

Official opening: 1896

Length: 1,339.9 m

GPS coordinates: 39.98235,-75.06910

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:45