The Ben Franklin Bridge will close to vehicular traffic on Saturday, July 11, for a free Ben Franklin Bridge Celebration marking the span’s 100th anniversary. People will still be able to walk the bridge during the event, turning one of the region’s busiest crossings into a public gathering place for the day.
Kaitlyn McCormick of the Philadelphia Metro Connect Team said registration is highly encouraged and can be found through the Delaware River Port Authority website. The celebration is expected to draw crowds with food trucks, family entertainment, face painting, yard games, inflatables, local vendors and a live DJ, along with appearances by the Philadelphia mayor and the Camden mayor.
The bridge’s history will also be on display. Guests will see educational exhibits, photographs, artifacts and interactive components, plus construction equipment used to maintain and operate the bridge, including the zipper truck. The main event area will be near the toll plaza on the Camden side, while walkers can make the trip from Philadelphia to Camden on the westbound roadway lanes.
That setup also creates the day’s biggest shift: cars will be kept off the bridge while people on foot are allowed across. Drivers headed to Camden can use the Walt Whitman Bridge or Betsy Ross Bridge instead, while eventgoers can park free at select Rutgers University lots, use the Camden County College garage for a fee or look for paid street parking. PATCO will run on an increased schedule, with service from Philadelphia stations to Camden’s City Hall station or Philadelphia’s Franklin Square Station, and complimentary shuttles will also be available.
The event is a one-day use of the bridge as an event space, not a permanent change in how it operates. For Saturday, the bridge’s normal role as a traffic route gives way to walking, history and family activities for a 100-year milestone that is being opened to the public rather than closed off from it.
