Cargo Ship Strikes Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, Leaving It Stuck Open and Shutting a Key Philadelphia–New Jersey Crossing
A cargo ship struck the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge across the Delaware River on Thursday afternoon, leaving the drawbridge stuck in the open position and shutting down a crossing used by tens of thousands of drivers a day between Philadelphia and New Jersey.
No injuries were reported, officials said, but the bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians until further notice, with no timeline for repairs or reopening. Traffic backed up heavily on the Philadelphia side as evening rush hour approached.
A strike during a bridge opening
The collision happened at about 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, while the bridge was open to let marine traffic pass, according to the Delaware Bay Coast Guard. The ship struck the bascule section — the movable draw span — and the bridge could not be lowered again.
Pennsylvania state Representative Ed Neilson said in a news release that the impact left the 3,659-foot-long bridge unable to close. The Burlington County Bridge Commission, which owns, operates and maintains the crossing, said the bridge would remain closed until further notice and promised an update in time for the evening rush hour.
Inspectors and engineers were on site Thursday afternoon assessing the damage. Officials have not said what caused the collision, and it was not immediately clear whether weather played a role. Severe storms were moving through the region at the time, and flash flooding also hit Interstate 76 and other roads in the Philadelphia area on Thursday.
A crossing that carries up to 76,200 vehicles a day
The Tacony-Palmyra Bridge carries Route 73 between Palmyra, New Jersey, and the Tacony neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia. The steel bridge has three lanes of traffic — two into Philadelphia and one into New Jersey — and estimates from 2025 show it can carry as many as 76,200 vehicles each day.
With the crossing shut, drivers were urged to use alternate routes, and heavy congestion was expected on the other bridges between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including the Betsy Ross Bridge, which carries Route 90 between Philadelphia and Pennsauken.
The bridge opened in 1929 and combines a steel tied-arch span with a double-leaf bascule drawbridge. Federal Highway Administration data from the 2026 National Bridge Inventory, released this fall, rated the crossing in “fair” condition overall, with its deck in good condition and its substructure and superstructure both rated fair.
Why this matters
Ship strikes on bridges draw heightened scrutiny since the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, when a container ship lost power and brought down the span. The Tacony-Palmyra incident caused far less damage — the bridge remained standing, with its draw span stuck open rather than destroyed — but it still severed a major commuter link indefinitely while engineers determine whether the structure is safe to lower and reopen.
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The closure also comes on a day of severe weather across the region. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in Wilmington, Delaware, during the same day of severe weather, and flooding disrupted highways around Philadelphia, compounding the evening commute.
Latest developments
As of Thursday evening, the bridge remained closed in the raised position, with crews still working on the structure and no reopening time announced. The Burlington County Bridge Commission was investigating the extent of the damage, and the Coast Guard was involved in the response. Officials said updates would follow once inspectors complete their assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge open?
No. The bridge is closed to vehicles and pedestrians until further notice after a cargo ship struck it on Thursday, November 12, leaving the drawbridge stuck open. Officials have not given a reopening time.
Was anyone hurt when the cargo ship hit the bridge?
No injuries have been reported, according to state Representative Ed Neilson and a Burlington County spokesperson.
What routes can drivers use instead?
Drivers were urged to use other Delaware River crossings, including the Betsy Ross Bridge, which carries Route 90 between Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey. Heavy congestion was expected on alternate bridges.
How busy is the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge?
The bridge carries Route 73 between Palmyra, New Jersey, and Philadelphia and can handle as many as 76,200 vehicles a day, according to 2025 estimates.
What to watch next
The key question is how quickly engineers can assess the damage and lower the draw span safely. Until then, the Route 73 crossing stays shut, and commuters between Philadelphia and southern New Jersey face longer trips on alternate bridges. Investigators will also need to determine what caused the ship to strike the bridge — and whether the stormy conditions on Thursday played a part.
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