A New Jersey drawbridge will stay open longer, testing if ships can wait

The US Coast Guard is temporarily changing the operating schedule for the Lehigh Valley Drawbridge in Newark Bay. For the next few months, the bridge will stay closed to ship traffic for longer periods, opening less frequently than before.

Drawbridges are a constant point of friction between road traffic and ship traffic. This temporary change tests whether ships can adapt to a less frequent opening schedule without major disruption. If it works, it means fewer traffic jams for cars and trucks crossing the bridge.