Before the bridges
For most of the region’s history, there was no fixed crossing between Camden and Philadelphia. People and goods moved by boat, and ferry services connected the two shores for generations, as described in the article on river ferries. Steam ferries later carried passengers and vehicles in large numbers. The first major fixed crossing in the immediate area did not open until the 1920s, which meant that, for a long time, the width of the Delaware was a daily fact of life for anyone traveling between the two sides.
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, a suspension bridge, links downtown Camden with downtown Philadelphia. It opened in 1926 and was originally called the Delaware River Bridge, a name later changed to honor Benjamin Franklin. It stands out in the skyline, with its long suspended spans and two tall towers.
The bridge carries road traffic, a rapid transit line and a walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. The road connects on the New Jersey side with the highway system, and the rapid transit service across the bridge is the PATCO Speedline, which has its own explanation. Walkway hours and access can change, so verify them with the bridge operator before planning to cross on foot or by bicycle.
Its position at the downtown waterfronts made the bridge both a convenience and a major force in the form of the city. Approaches and ramps required clearing land on both shores, a subject taken up in the history of urban highways.
The Walt Whitman Bridge
South of the downtown area, the Walt Whitman Bridge links the Gloucester City area of New Jersey with South Philadelphia. It opened in 1957 and carries an interstate highway, giving drivers a route toward the sports complex and airport side of Philadelphia and to the highways beyond. It is named for the poet who spent his last years in Camden, a figure discussed in the article on Walt Whitman.
Together with the Franklin Bridge, it forms the principal bridge pair serving the Camden side of the river. The Whitman Bridge generally handles traffic that does not need to pass through downtown Camden.
The Betsy Ross Bridge
North of Camden, the Betsy Ross Bridge connects Pennsauken, New Jersey, with the Port Richmond area of northeast Philadelphia. It opened in the 1970s, and it is named for the Philadelphia flag-maker traditionally associated with the first American flag. Historians debate details of that tradition, so the name is best understood as commemorative. The bridge offers a route that bypasses central Camden for traffic traveling between the two states.
The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge
Still farther up the river, the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge crosses between Palmyra, New Jersey, and the Tacony section of Philadelphia. It opened in the 1920s and is operated by a different agency than the three bridges above. The Burlington County Bridge Commission, not the Delaware River Port Authority, runs it. It is an older and smaller crossing, with a different character from the large interstate-level bridges.
Who runs the crossings
Most of the large bridges in the Camden area are run by the Delaware River Port Authority, a bi-state agency created to build and operate crossings. Such agencies are funded largely by tolls and have powers that individual cities do not. Operators may change tolling methods, collect them in only one direction and adjust rates, so consult the operator’s information on any trip. Maintenance and repair projects also periodically close lanes, so check ahead before relying on a particular crossing.
How crossings shaped travel
Bridges changed regional geography in several ways.
- They replaced ferries. Once a car or train could cross without waiting for a boat, ferry services declined and eventually disappeared in the immediate area.
- They supported suburban growth. Roads leading to the bridges let people live farther from Philadelphia while still working there, which contributed to suburbanization. The broader trend is covered in the article on suburban flight.
- They tied the region together economically. Drivers, trucks and trains moved more easily between the ports, the factories and the city centers on both banks, as described in the pieces on port facilities and railroad links.
- They reshaped neighborhoods. Approaches, ramps and interchanges cut through existing blocks. Residents and historians continue to discuss the costs and benefits.
- They concentrated traffic. Because the number of crossings is limited, an incident on one bridge can affect others nearby, and congestion at the approaches is a recurring regional concern.
Seeing the bridges today
The bridges are also landmarks. The Franklin Bridge is visible from the Camden waterfront, and the towers are lit at night in a pattern that has changed over the years, so check current information if viewing is the goal. For general advice on navigating the approaches by car, read the notes on driving and parking basics. For pedestrians and cyclists, how to evaluate a route for safety and comfort is discussed in the piece on cycling routes. Further down the river are other crossings, such as the Commodore Barry Bridge, which connect the lower Delaware communities.
Bridge names, dates and operators are well documented in public sources, but details such as lane configurations, tolls and walkway rules change over time. For current information, use the operator websites and official notices.