Walt Whitman Bridge Drainage System

The Delaware River Port Authority was looking to improve water runoff from the bridge. The solution is a unique drainage system comprised of troughs and tanks, which collect the debris at the top of the anchorage and the water continues down the drainage system to the bottom of the anchorage. The Walt Whitman Bridge, a focal point of Philadelphia, was in need of additional water runoff.

The Delaware River Port Authority solved the issue with a drainage system which is hot-dip galvanized for corrosion protection. The solution consists of 22 troughs and 8 tanks. Edward Kurth & Sons, along with the DRPA decided a “gutter system” will reduce water flow on the platform.

The troughs, weighing 600 pounds each, funnel the water in the lower lever where the tanks collect the water into a filtration system. The tanks are up to 10 feet and length and weigh 1,500 pounds on average. They each hold over 300 gallons of water at a time.

The hope is that this new runoff system will diminish delays during extreme rainfalls. Many Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents have been long awaiting this system to help the flow of traffic during rainfall. It was a challenge to galvanize due to the 3/8” walls and the heavy weight of each piece.

The galvanizer and fabricator were concerned about distortion, due to the original design to not allowing enough venting. After consideration, the design was altered, and the product was a success.