DRPA Bridges' Cathodic Protection

The Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges, the main roadways crossing the Delaware River to connect Philadelphia and Camden, accommodate an average of over 200,000 vehicles daily. Built in the 1920s and 1950s respectively, these aging suspension bridges require uninterrupted, expert maintenance to ensure continual transit safety for the large metropolitan area. The Ben Franklin Bridge also carries the PATCO (Pennsylvania–New Jersey Transit Corporation) rail line, over which an additional 36,000+ commuters ride daily. Both bridges are managed by the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).

UTRS provides monthly monitoring and maintenance of the cathodic protection systems of both bridges. We also provides status updates to DRPA and annual assessments of all systems. Without this protection, the integrity and safety of the bridges could be compromised. A failure of either bridge would cause massive disruption to one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States.

Corrosion Control Services Provided

• Maintenance of the multi-zoned, impressed current cathodic protection systems for the concrete Ben Franklin Bridge approaches.
• Galvanic and impressed current systems for concrete support structures of the Walt Whitman Bridge.