Cargo Ship Strikes the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, Leaving the Drawbridge Stuck Open and Commuters Stranded

A cargo ship struck the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge on Thursday afternoon, leaving the drawbridge over the Delaware River stuck open and cutting off a busy route between Northeast Philadelphia and Palmyra, New Jersey, officials said. No injuries were reported.

The strike happened shortly after 1 p.m., while the bridge was raised for passing marine traffic, according to Burlington County. CBS News Philadelphia, citing the Coast Guard, put the time at about 1:15 p.m.. The ship's name and size have not been released.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Ed Neilson said the collision left the bridge unable to close, causing a major backup on the Philadelphia side, the Associated Press reported. "The good news is that there were no reported injuries in the incident," Neilson wrote in a Facebook post, according to 94.5 PST.

Burlington County said in a social media post that the bridge was closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic while officials investigate a possible collision with a ship passing beneath the drawbridge. The county said it is examining the extent of any damage to the structure. "At this time, it is still unknown when the bridge will reopen," the county said.

Inspectors and engineers were on site assessing the damage Thursday afternoon, 94.5 PST reported. CBS News Philadelphia reported that the span was staying open until crews could assess the damage and make repairs. The Burlington County Bridge Commission, which owns and operates the crossing, said in a recorded message that the bridge was closed to vehicles and pedestrians until further notice and promised an update in time for the evening rush hour, according to the AP.

Early in the afternoon there was hope for a quick fix. Citing CBS3, 94.5 PST reported that officials hoped the bridge might reopen later in the afternoon. By the evening commute, though, the county was still saying it did not know when the crossing would reopen to the public.

The collision came as severe storms moved through the region, and officials have not said whether weather played any role, NBC10 reported. The cause remains under investigation.

For thousands of families on both sides of the river, this bridge is part of daily life. The 3,659-foot steel toll bridge carries Route 73 traffic between Palmyra and the Tacony neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, with two lanes into Philadelphia and one into New Jersey, the AP reported. Estimates from 2025 show it can carry up to 76,200 vehicles a day.

The bridge opened in 1929. Federal Highway Administration inspection data released this fall rated it in fair condition overall, with the deck rated good and the substructure and superstructure rated fair, according to the AP.

This is not the first time a ship has hit the crossing. In April 2018, a ship struck the bridge late at night, closing it and its pedestrian walkway for nearly five hours before it reopened to traffic early the next morning; officials at the time believed high winds may have been a factor, CBS News Philadelphia reported then.

Drivers are urged to find alternate routes, and officials warned of heavier traffic on the other bridges linking New Jersey and Pennsylvania, NBC10 reported. Roads around the bridge were gridlocked Thursday afternoon, with delays on Route 73 in both states and on New State Road in Pennsylvania, and traffic was expected to build on the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges, according to 94.5 PST.

Out here on the ground, the first question after any accident like this is always the same: was anyone hurt? Thankfully, the answer Thursday was no, and that is a blessing worth counting. The second question is whether the bridge is safe, and that answer belongs to the inspectors, who should take all the time they need before cars and walkers are allowed back across.

Commuters heading home tonight should plan extra time, check with the bridge commission before setting out, and give themselves the grace of patience on crowded roads. We will update this story as inspectors report on the damage and officials announce when the bridge will reopen.