Wittpenn Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wittpenn Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The Wittpenn Bridge carries NJ Route 7 over the Hackensack River |
|
| Official name | Wittpenn Bridge |
| Carries | 4 Lanes of NJ Route 7 |
| Crosses | Hackensack River |
| Locale | Jersey City, New Jersey and Kearny, New Jersey |
| Maintained by | New Jersey Department of Transportation |
| Design | Lift bridge |
| Longest span | 83 feet |
| Total length | 2,169 feet |
| Width | 40 feet |
| Clearance below | 35 ft (lowered); 100 ft (raised) |
| Opening date | November 5, 1930 |
The Wittpenn Bridge is a vertical lift bridge that carries New Jersey Route 7 over the Hackensack River connecting Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge is comprised of four ten-foot wide lanes, extending 2,169 feet and standing 35 feet above mean high water with an 83 foot main lift span. Bridge construction commenced 1927, and was opened to vehicular traffic November 5, 1930. The bridge has an Annual average daily traffic (AADT) of nearly 50,000 vehicles, including about 2,000 trucks[1]
When raised, the bridge provides 100 feet of clearance for ships. In 2005, the bridge was raised to accommodate 80 boats passing underneath, a process that takes 15 minutes to raise the lift span.[1]
The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is developing plans to replace the Wittpenn Bridge and all its approach ramps (including connections to U.S. Route 1/9), a project estimated to cost $350 million, funded by federal dollars. Once funding issues have been addressed, construction is expected to start in the spring of 2007. The new bridge would be situated just north of the existing bridge.[2]
