Traffic into Philadelphia was snarled for hours on Thursday morning as police investigated the discovery of a body on the Ben Franklin Bridge. All lanes in the direction of New Jersey were closed for a short time after the morning traffic finished.
The Delaware River Port Authority, which manages the bridge between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, said that a corpse of an unidentified male was discovered on the westbound (Philadelphia-bound) lanes of the bridge shortly before 5 a.m.
At one point, authorities blocked at least three lanes as they investigated. Around 7 a.m., the DRPAben franklin bridge accident announced via social media that cars should find other routes.
Ben Franklin Bridge Travel Alert:
Expect heavy delays WB into Philly due to police activity. Seek alternative route at this time, if possible.
— Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) (@DRPA_PAandNJ) October 12, 2023
The DRPA said that the bridge lanes will remain blocked during the morning commute. The DRPA said just after 9 a.m. that both eastbound lanes were stopped and only one westbound lane was getting through due to a police investigation on the bridge.
⚠️ Ben Franklin Bridge Travel Alert Update:
*All EB lanes into NJ are closed at this time as part of police investigation*
Only 1 WB lane into Philly remains open at this time due to police activity
— Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) (@DRPA_PAandNJ) October 12, 2023
The DRPA announced on X (previously Twitter) at 9:20 a.m. that all lanes have reopened in both directions on the bridge.
Ben Franklin Bridge Travel Alert Update:
✅All WB lanes into Philly are reopened at this time, but residual delays remain
✅Normal travel operations have resumed on the EB lanes into NJ
— Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) (@DRPA_PAandNJ) October 12, 2023
The Betsy Ross Bridge to the north and the Walt Whitman Bridge to the south were recommended as alternate routes into Philadelphia from South Jersey. They could cross across to I-95, I-76, and other highways from there.
The DRPA stated that the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the cause of death for the individual found on the bridge.
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