NEW CASTLE, DEL. – At approximately 11:55 p.m. March 26, the Zhen Hua25, a heavy-lift vessel transporting two ship-to-shore cranes bound for Philadelphia, will be navigating beneath the spans of the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
According to a release, as a precaution and to eliminate driver distraction, the Delaware Memorial Bridge, both northbound and southbound, will be temporarily closed to all traffic for a period of approximately 30 minutes while the ship travels north to Philadelphia. This temporary closure may take place sometime between 11:45 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. March 26. Traffic delays are expected and motorists should plan accordingly.
The distance from the water level to the top of the cranes aboard the Zhen Hua25is 188 feet, 3 inches. Due to tides levels and the Delaware Memorial Bridge’s measured clearances, the vessel must travel under the spans during the period of low tide.
Both spans of the Delaware Memorial Bridge will reopen to traffic once the Zhen Hua25 clears the structures.
Produced by Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co. in China, the super-post-Panamax cranes are destined for PhilaPort’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal.
A third crane aboard the Zhen Hua25 is destined for Wilmington, N.C. Once the two cranes are off-loaded in Philadelphia, the Zhen Hua25 – with the remaining crane aboard – will make its way south on the Delaware River.
Delaware Memorial Bridge traffic will once again be temporarily interrupted for this passage, which is tentatively scheduled for April 2 at approximately 5:15 a.m. A second motorist alert will be issued when the schedule is finalized.
