The Delaware River bridges are a beautiful collection of historic steel truss bridges that prove you do not always need to build a new bridge, if you perform regular maintenance historic structures can continue well into the 21st century. While this bridge technically connects Frenchtown in New Jersey with Uhlerstown in Pennsylvania, anyone who has crossed this bridge can tell you one is a town in all meanings of the word and the other is just, well, a name. The bridge we see today is a six-span rivet connected Warren through truss bridge constructed in 1931 by the Lehigh Structural Steel Company.

The stone piers and abutments point to the older history of this crossing. As with most of the historic multi-span Delaware bridges the first structure here was a wooden covered bridge constructed in 1843 and opened in 1844. As with many of the historic bridges, it was damaged in the 1903 flood and two wooden spans were washed away, later replaced by metal truss spans. The entire structure was rebuilt in 1931 utilizing the original piers and abutments following a little repointing, which is what we see today. In 1949 the bridge underwent its first revitalization, replacing the wood decking with metal and adding the sidewalk. The bridge underwent a second major rehabilitation in 2001 which is memorialized by the plaques on either side. Even 25 years later the bridge looks like new, just look at the riveted lacework, a result of continued maintenance on this structure, proof that historic bridges can still work, but only if we want to put in the work.

Lastly, since I know you were wondering, no you cannot bring your horse across the bridge. You know that sign was added for a reason, I only wish I knew the story.

05/20/2021:

Came for my last Delaware River Loop Trail hike from Frenchtown, NJ to Uhlerstown-Lumberville, PA back to Bull’s Island Recreation Area, 10 miles (skipped the NJ canal part because I did that already and friends couldn’t take a 18.9-mile long hike). So we crossed this bridge. The view is beautiful as on other bridges. In a hot day, the breeze from the river makes it much cooler and pleasant.

If I live nearby, it would be my regular everyday morning and evening strolling place.

Wonderful steel bridge over the Delaware. Open grate deck, as it should be, so your tires hum and your car wiggles. Wonderful village of Frenchtown with all of its fantastic restaurants and timeless vibe. Wonderful rural community of Uhlerstown with its gorgeous covered canal bridge and lime kilns. Such a great part of the river to spend some time.

Beautiful historical steel structure crossing the Delaware River from Frenchtown, NJ to Upper Black Eddy, PA.

Drive or walk.

The views from the bridge are priceless!

Beautiful bridge linking Frenchtown, NJ, and Uhlerstown, PA. You can walk over the bridge and enjoy the scenery from both sides.