Ship Collision Protection System
delaware memorial bridge
Securing the Future with a Ship Collision PROTECTION System
Investing in the economic stability of the region
On July 26, 2023 Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that construction work on the new Delaware Memorial Bridge Protection System was underway and expected to be completed in September 2025. The project was completed in October 2025. The cost of the project was around $95 million, with partial funding provided by a $22.25 million U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant.
“The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a vital transportation link in the I-95 north-south corridor and millions of people rely on it to move products, visit family or commute to work on a daily basis,” Thomas J. Cook, Former Executive Director of the DRBA. “The current bridge tower pier protection systems are original to each span and today’s tankers and ships are bigger and faster than those of the 1950s and 1960s. Our goal is to take preemptive measures to prevent a commercial vessel from striking one of the bridge towers, which could cause significant damage to the bridge infrastructure and disruptions to interstate travel.”
After the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024 the nation looked to the Delaware Memorial Bridge, including national and international media, with interest in the Ship Collision Protection System already under construction. Former Senior Project Engineer, Gregory G. Pawlowski (now retired) visited the site with a variety of media outlets to explain the ten-year plus planning and current construction of the system. It includes 80' "Dolphins" as shown in the rendering video provided by Pennoni.
The system is now complete and on August 12, 2026 a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held, along with a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the 1st Span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
Senior Project Engineer, Greg Pawlowski Explaining the Ship Collision Protection System Function and construction
Gregory G. Pawlowski, PE was the DRBA Senior Project Engineer (Retired, 2026) in charge of this project. Greg spoke to the media on March 27, 2024 following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Photos from the construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge Ship Collision Protection System
Rendering of the Final Delaware Memorial Bridge Ship cOllision Protection System
Fly Over of the construction site under the Delaware Memorial Bridge on July 7, 2025
A Time Lapse Video of the Construction of the Ship Collision Protection System Dolphins
bridge facts
Opened to the Public: August 16, 1951
Connecting: New Castle, DE and Pennsville, NJ
Overall Length: 3,650 Feet
Bridge Type: Twin Span Suspension Bridge
Initial Cost: $44 Million - First Span
Twin Span: Added 1968
Daily Crossings: 100,000 vehicles
Did You Know?
Fraternal, not identical…to the eye, the two spans of the Delaware Memorial Bridge look identical. Most of the differences are the result of improved construction technology. In fact, the original span (heading to New Jersey) is one foot taller than the second span.
