Delaware River Port Authority - History

History

In 1919, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and The State of New Jersey legislatures approved the creation of the Delaware River Bridge Joint Commission. The first meeting was held on December 12, 1919, with commissioners from both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. On July 1, 1926, the first bridge opened before a crowd of over 25,000 people. It was named the "Delaware River Bridge," and following the ceremony, over 100,000 people participated in the inaugural walk. United States President Calvin Coolidge came the next day to dedicate the bridge. However, there was thought that there should be a regional governing body for a port authority, and also the construction of another bridge and a high speed rail line. And so, on July 17, 1951 United States President Harry S. Truman signed a bill, which created the Delaware River Port Authority. In 1955, plans were made for a new bridge to connect South Philadelphia and Gloucester City. Additionally, the Delaware River Bridge officially had its name changed to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. On May 15, 1955, the Walt Whitman Bridge opened, helping to gain papularity of Veterans Stadium, The Spectrum, and other South Philadelphia attractions. By 1966, two more bridges were approved; the Commodore Barry Bridge (opened February 1, 1974) and the Betsy Ross Bridge (opened April 30, 1976). In 1974 and 1990, the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Walt Whitman Bridge carried their one-billionth vehicle, respectively.