Toll Collections To Resume For Delaware Memorial Bridge

The Delaware Memorial Bridge Twin Span will resume collecting tolls at its southbound plaza Thursday, the Delaware River and Bay Authority announced on Monday.

All toll operators will be required to wear a face mask and gloves while collecting toll money, according to a statement issued Monday morning.

Toll booths will also be sanitized between shifts, which are being staggered to limit exposure to the public among toll collectors. Drivers are also encouraged to wear face masks when they drive through the cash lanes.

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Tolls for the Delaware Memorial Bridge have been collected via E-ZPass or the temporary toll-by-mail process since March 26, when cash collections were temporarily suspended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Since the outbreak of the virus, traffic on the bridge has dropped dramatically, according to the authority. The bridge saw record-setting months for traffic in January and February, but that dropped to 1,057,005 vehicles in March 2020, a decline of more than 24% compared to last year.

In April, those numbers dropped more than 64 percent compared to last year at this time. Through the first 4.5 months of the year, the bridge has only seen 4.6 million vehicles, a decline of nearly 25% for the same time last year.

Drivers who do not have E-ZPass accounts will need to be prepared to pay with cash once cash collections resume. To open an E-ZPass account, contact the New Jersey E-ZPass Customer Service Center at 888-AUTO-TOLL (888-288-6865) or by visit www.ezpassnj.com.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge E-ZPass Customer Service Center located in the Vincent A. Julia Building is still closed. The authority said it will post an update on the center’s status on its website no later than 6 p.m. on May 31.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

This article originally appeared on the Cinnaminson Patch