Walt Whitman Bridge: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

All Topics

Walt Whitman Bridge

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

	Walt Whitman Bridge
	Home Discussion Definition
	Topics Walt Whitman Bridge Topic Home The Walt Whitman Bridge is a suspension bridgeSuspension bridge A suspension bridge is a type of bridge that has been made since ancient times.... spanning the Delaware RiverFacts About Delaware River The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.... from Philadelphia to Gloucester City, New JerseyGloucester City, New Jersey Gloucester City is a City in Camden County, New Jersey, United States.... . Named after the poet Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman Walter "Walt" Whitman is widely considered to be one of America's best and most influential poets.... , who resided in nearby Camden toward the end of his life, the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of the larger bridges on the east coast of the United StatesUnited States The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... . The bridge is owned and operated by the Delaware River Port AuthorityDelaware River Port Authority The Delaware River Port Authority or DRPA is a bi-state port district located within the State of New Jersey and the C... . Construction on the bridge began in 1953, and it opened to traffic on May 16, 1957. The bridge has a total length of 11,981 feet (3,651 meters), and a main span of 2,000 feet (610 meters). The bridge has seven lanes, three in each direction and a center lane that is shifted variably (via a zipper barrierBarrier transfer machine Barrier Transfer machines, also known as Zipper Machines, are heavy vehicles used to transfer Jersey barriers or other... ) to accommodate heavy traffic. The bridge is a part of Interstate 76Interstate 76 (east) Interstate 76 is an Interstate Highway in the United States, running 435 miles from an interchange with Interstate 71 west o... (which, between the river and the Pennsylvania TurnpikePennsylvania Turnpike \|Western terminus of ticket system\|-\|39... interchange in King of Prussia, PennsylvaniaKing of Prussia, Pennsylvania King of Prussia is an unincorporated community in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States.... , is known as the "Schuylkill Expressway"). Along with the Benjamin Franklin BridgeBenjamin Franklin Bridge The Benjamin Franklin Bridge, originally named the Delaware River Bridge, is a suspension bridge across the Delaware R... , Betsy Ross BridgeBetsy Ross Bridge The Betsy Ross Bridge is a continuous truss bridge spanning the Delaware River from Philadelphia to Pennsauken, New Jersey.... , Delaware Memorial BridgeDelaware Memorial Bridge The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a set of twin suspension bridges crossing the Delaware River.... , and Commodore Barry BridgeCommodore Barry Bridge The Commodore Barry Bridge is a cantilever bridge that spans the Delaware River from Chester, Pennsylvania to Bridgeport, in... , the Walt Whitman Bridge is one of five expresswayExpressway An expressway is a divided highway, usually 4 lanes or wider.... -standard bridges connecting the Philadelphia area with southern New JerseyNew Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States.... . Tolls A $3.00 one-way toll is charged entering Pennsylvania for passenger vehicles (less than 7,000 lbs gross vehicle weight). An $18 credit will be given on a per tag basis for any DRPA-issued E-ZPassFacts About E-ZPass E-ZPass is the electronic toll collection system used on most toll bridges and toll roads in the eastern United States from ... tag that crosses one of the four DRPA bridges 18 times in a calendar month. Trucks, Commercial vehicles, mobile homes and recreation vehicles (weighing at least 7,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight), pay $4.50 cash per axle. Seniors aged 65 and over can use a ticket program to pay $1.00 per trip (not integrated with E-ZPass). The DRPA had initially proposed a $1 to $2 toll increase on the bridge in early 2008, however it has pushed the toll hike back to at least mid-2008 due to its decision to use general funds to fund projects for the time being. Popular Culture Due to its national prominence as one of Philadelphia's largest bridges, and also because of its perceived architectural beauty, the Walt Whitman Bridge has been referenced frequently in popular culture, including: The Philadelphia-based rock 'n' roll troubadours MarahMarah (band) Marah is an American rock band that formed in the early 1990s and is closely associated with the city of Philadelphia.... include a song named "Walt Whitman Bridge" on their 2005 album "If You Didn't Laugh, You'd CryIf You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry *If You Didn't Laugh, You'd Cry* is an album by Marah, released in 2005. ... ", in which the heartbroken protagonist stands alone on the bridge, smoking a cigarette and allowing the memory of his lost love to blow away on the breeze. Part of the music videoMusic video A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song.... for Southern rockSouthern rock Southern rock is a style of rock music that was very popular in the 1970s, and still retains a large fan base to the present... band 38 Special's song "Back Where you Belong" was filmed underneath the Walt Whitman Bridge, using police officers from neighboring CollingdaleCollingdale, Pennsylvania Collingdale is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States.... . A scene in the movie "The Italian Job"The Italian Job (2003 film) *The Italian Job* is a 2003 action-adventure film, directed by F.... also was filmed under the Walt Whitman Bridge. See also List of crossings of the Delaware RiverList of crossings of the Delaware River This is a list of bridges and other crossings of the Delaware River from the Atlantic Ocean upstream to its source.... External links