Benjamin Franklin Bridge - Philadelphia, PA/Camden, NJ
Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
N 39° 57.135 W 075° 07.855
18S E 488817 N 4422465
Formally known as the Delaware River Bridge, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge is a suspension bridge spans across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey.
Waymark Code: WMHTDH
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 08/12/2013
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member saopaulo1
Views: 7

"The Delaware River Bridge extends from Franklin Square at 6th St. to 6th and Penn Sts. in Camden. New Jersey, a distance of nearly two miles. Erected at a cost of $37,000,000 and opened in 1926, it has lines for vehicular and pedestrian traffic, and tracks for high speed electric lines. The main span, supported by towers 385 feet above mean high water, is 1,750 feet long. The bridge, of steel and granite construction, was designed by Ralph Modjeski. Its architectural features were designed by Paul Philippe Cret. --- Pennsylvania: A Guide to the Keystone State, 1940; page 276

This is a gorgeous attraction to be seen at night. Over the last decade or so I have witnessed many different lighting variations on the bridge. Some are static and some change color. I took the photos from the NJ side @ the Adventure Aquarium. The Aquarium sits to the south of the bridge and affords a spectacular view. There is an excellent geocache which features Benjamin Franklin as its theme. There are several stages, my favorite stage was found on this bridge and required the cacher to walk the pedestrian walkway to the apex of the bridge to collect the necessary information.

From Wikipedia: "At its completion on July 1, 1926, its 533-metre span made it the world's longest suspension bridge span, a distinction it would hold until the opening of the Ambassador Bridge in 1929."

I also found an excellent website which accounts a very comprehensive history of the bridge. Here is a taste of what I found and hopefully it will bridge the gap of information I did not present so far:

"The anchorages on either side give the bridge an appearance of massiveness. Each of the granite anchorages to which the steel cables are attached covers three-quarters of an acre. The two anchorages, which together required 216,000 tons of masonry, rise 175 feet above the ground. Their "toeholds" sink into the earth 65 feet into the Philadelphia side, and 105 feet into the Camden side. On the western anchorage are carved the seals of the state of Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia, and on the eastern anchorage are carved the seals of the state of New Jersey and the city of Camden.

The entrances to the bridge also exhibited grandeur. Four bronze "winged victory" statues - two statues adorning the Philadelphia and Camden plaza portals - were erected." SOURCE

Website: [Web Link]

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