Editing Walt Whitman Bridge (section)

== History ==

By the 1950s, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge could not handle growing cross-river traffic, particularly vehicles heading to southern New Jersey destinations. Planning for a second major crossing focused on a location south of Center City that would connect to emerging highway networks on both sides of the river. Construction began in 1953 on what would become the Walt Whitman Bridge.<ref name="drpa"/>

The bridge opened on May 16, 1957, named for Walt Whitman, the celebrated American poet who lived in Camden from 1873 until his death in 1892. The naming honored Whitman's connection to the region while distinguishing the new crossing from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to the north. Initial tolls were fifty cents.<ref name="drpa"/>

The bridge's opening coincided with highway construction that created continuous interstate connections through the region. Interstate 76 runs from the bridge through South Philadelphia to connect with the Schuylkill Expressway, while New Jersey highways provide access to Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore. This highway integration made the Walt Whitman crucial for regional travel patterns.<ref name="drpa"/>