Lower Trenton Bridge

The Lower Trenton Toll Supported Bridge, often called the Lower Free Bridge, Warren Street Bridge, or Trenton Makes Bridge, is a two-lane Pennsylvania (Petit) through truss bridge. It crosses the Delaware River, connecting Trenton, New Jersey, with Morrisville, Pennsylvania.

This bridge is operated by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. It is famous for the large sign on its south side that reads, "TRENTON MAKES - THE WORLD TAKES", which was put up in 1935.

As well as being an important way to travel between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the bridge is a well-known landmark in Trenton. It is signed as US 1 Business, although it does not officially carry that route.

The Lower Trenton Bridge is the southernmost free crossing of the Delaware River. No toll is collected here, unlike other crossings further downstream, where a fee is required when traveling west away from New Jersey.

History

The Lower Trenton Bridge began as a toll bridge managed by the Trenton Delaware Bridge Company. It opened on January 30, 1806, and was the first bridge to cross the Delaware River.

In 1835, the Camden and Amboy Rail Road purchased the bridge to help settle a competition with another railroad. They soon added tracks for trains, making it the first railroad bridge in the United States used for travel between states. Over time, the bridge was rebuilt several times to accommodate more train traffic. In 1918, the bridge was sold to state governments, and tolls were removed. The famous sign that reads "TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES" was added in 1935.

Appearances in popular culture

The famous "TRENTON MAKES THE WORLD TAKES" sign has been in many movies, TV shows, and other media. You can see it at the end of the 1954 film Human Desire with Glenn Ford. It also appears in the 1983 movie Baby, It's You and in films like Stealing Home, Rocket Science, and One for the Money.

The sign has also been in music videos, album covers, TV episodes, and speeches. This shows how well-known the bridge and its motto are.