Cargo Ship Strikes Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, Leaving It Stuck Open Between Philadelphia and New Jersey

A large cargo ship struck the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge over the Delaware River at about 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 12, 2026, while the bridge was open for river traffic, according to the Delaware Bay Coast Guard as reported by local outlets. The bridge could not close after the strike, and it remains closed to road traffic until further notice.

The Burlington County Bridge Commission Police issued an alert saying the bridge was closed until further notice. That alert, posted through Nixle, carried no end time for the closure. The crossing connects Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Burlington County, New Jersey, and carries Route 73 traffic across the river. A Burlington County spokesperson confirmed that no one was hurt, and officials reported no injuries in the strike. That held across every report published on Thursday afternoon: no injuries were reported.

The first alert and the traffic backup

Pennsylvania State Representative Ed Neilson shared the first public alert about the strike and the closure. "Motorists planning to travel into New Jersey are strongly encouraged to seek an alternate route and consider using another bridge," Neilson said. He warned that with the bridge out of service, traffic at other Delaware River crossings would be far heavier than usual.

Roads around the bridge were gridlocked on Thursday afternoon. WPST described a tough afternoon commute across New Jersey and Pennsylvania that had just got tougher. Delays were reported on Route 73 in both states and on New State Road in Pennsylvania. WPST reported that other crossings between the two states, including the Walt Whitman Bridge and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, would carry increased traffic while the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge stayed out of service.

Inspectors assess the damage

Inspectors and engineers are on site assessing the damage, according to CBS 3 Philadelphia reports relayed by WPST. The cause of the strike is under investigation, and officials have given no time for the bridge to reopen. Television reports said inspectors hoped the bridge could reopen later on Thursday afternoon, but the Bridge Commission alert kept the closure in place until further notice, with no confirmed reopening time. Officials reported the collision sometime before 3 p.m. on Thursday.

Storms move through the region

The collision happened as severe storms moved through the region, on a day FOX 29 described as marred by severe weather and flooding. Officials have not said whether the crash was weather related. The bridge stays shut until inspectors finish their assessment and it can close again, and drivers crossing between Philadelphia and New Jersey face a long afternoon commute in the meantime.