Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Reopens After Cargo Ship Collision

On November 12, a cargo ship struck the bridge spanning the Delaware River, disrupting traffic between Palmyra, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. The incident prevented the 3,659-foot-long Tacony-Palmyra Bridge from closing, causing a major traffic backup on the Philadelphia side, according to a press release from State Representative Ed Neilson. Reports indicate that no injuries were reported.

In a statement, the U.S. Coast Guard identified the vessel as the Strategic Alliance, a 591-foot-long cargo ship built in 2013 and sailing under the Singapore flag. According to reports, the vessel is currently secured at a Kinder Morgan facility in Bristol, Pennsylvania, with an inspection team on site.

At the time of the accident, the Tacony-Palmyra drawbridge was open to allow vessels to pass. The incident occurred at approximately 1:15 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. The bridge remained open for a short time afterward because other vessels needed to pass. Authorities later closed it, and it has since been lowered. The bridge officially reopened to traffic with one lane closed on the evening of Thursday, November 12, according to the Burlington County Bridge Commission Police Department.

The steel Tacony-Palmyra Bridge carries vehicles along Route 73 between Palmyra and the Tacony neighborhood in Northeast Philadelphia. It has three lanes of vehicular traffic, two heading toward Philadelphia and one toward New Jersey. According to 2025 estimates, the bridge carries an average of up to 76,200 vehicles per day.

Its main span is a 58-foot tied-arch structure, while its movable bascule span measures 260 feet. The bridge opens approximately 1,000 times a year to accommodate maritime traffic and provides 61 feet of vertical clearance beneath the arch at high tide.

The bridge opened in 1929 and is in acceptable condition, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration’s 2026 National Bridge Inventory, released this fall.

Tacony-Palmyra Bridge Closed to Traffic for Seven Hours

The bridge remained blocked and closed to traffic for more than seven hours, according to reports, including during peak commuting hours. Authorities worked on repairs throughout the day and into the evening, opening and closing the bridge several times. At approximately 6:30 p.m., Ed Neilson informed the public through social media that the bridge was expected to reopen in time for Friday morning’s commute.

It was not until 8:40 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, that the bridge reopened to vehicles, with one lane closed in the direction of Philadelphia as crews continued working on a section of the bridge. Reports added that one lane remained closed because of repairs to the pedestrian sidewalk.

On the morning of Friday, November 13, inspectors reportedly rated the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge deck in good condition, the substructure in fair condition, and the superstructure—which is the component that carries the live traffic load—in fair condition.

Crews are currently continuing repair work on the bridge, with one vehicle lane still closed and the pedestrian sidewalk remaining inaccessible. The Coast Guard continues to investigate the collision and assess any damage sustained by the vessel involved.

This is the third recorded incident involving the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. The first occurred nearly four decades ago, in 1988, when a maritime collision caused structural damage. Repairs following that accident were not completed until 1990. Later, in 2013, the bascule span became stuck because of a roller malfunction, forcing the bridge to close for approximately 11 hours.