Delaware River Bay Authority

Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal Transfer Bridge Improvements
Project Overview
Project Goals
Data Points
Group 34 Created with Sketch.
Our Team
Project Details
Community Impact
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An Opportunity for Growth

Holding up to 100 vehicles and 1,000 passengers, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is a substantial and important means of travel between New Jersey and Delaware. Age and time eventually wore down the original transfer bridges, necessitating their replacement. S. T. Hudson worked with the Delaware River & Bay Authority to demolish the old structures and design and build 5 new bridges.

Delaware-river-bay-authority-goals

Project Goals

As a major mode of transportation between New Jersey and Delaware, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry is integral to both travel and commuting. Ensuring the ferry can run safely and reliably is vital for both states. With this in mind, the goals for this project were as follows:

Replace Bridges

Building five new safe, strong bridges that would endure for years to come was the primary objective.

Upgrade to Modern Standards

Technology has evolved over the past several decades, allowing the bridges to be built with state-of-the-art construction such as sensors and monitoring to ensure bridge health and efficiency.

Ensure Consistency

Keeping operations consistent and reliable is important due to the many who use it for transport, and upgrading all five bridges together ensured that smooth operation would continue.

Allow for Flexible Operations

To avoid delays for commuters and travelers during the busy season, they need the flexibility to operate bridges in the manner that makes the most sense for the flow of traffic.

Key Data Points

5
Ferry Transfer
Bridges
3
Ferries in
Operation
43
Million Passengers
to Date

Our Team

Want to learn more about our individual expertise? Get to know our team!

Robert Hudson, P.E.

President and Chief Executive Officer
Robert Hudson, P.E. Robert Hudson, P.E.

Robert Hudson, P.E.

President and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Hudson is a Senior Civil/Structural Engineer with over 40 years of experience in the design and construction of marine facilities. He has special expertise in construction methods and estimating. Over the course of his career, Mr. Hudson has been involved in a wide range of construction activities, with emphasis on marine structures, bridges and pile foundations.

In 2002, Mr. Hudson became President and Chief Operating officer of S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc and continues to serve in that capacity today. Mr. Hudson is a Registered Professional Engineer in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. His professional affiliations include The Ports of Philadelphia Maritime Society; The Deep Foundation Institute; The American Society of Civil Engineers and The National Society of Professional Engineers.

James Thomas

Chief Operating Officer & Vice President
James Thomas James Thomas

James Thomas

Chief Operating Officer & Vice President

Mr. Thomas is Hudson’s Chief Operating Officer and has over 35 years of broad experience in the planning, design, management and execution of marine construction and dredging projects.

Mr. Thomas has worked on projects throughout the United States, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. His marine construction and dredging experience includes participation in small to large scale capital works, maintenance and superfund projects. He has managed the construction of offshore ocean ship berthing facilities as well as the construction of harbor berth facilities and terminals.

Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Vice President
Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Leslie (Hudson) Gerhard

Vice President

Ms. Gerhard is Vice President at S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc. with over 15 years of experience in marketing, company operations, contract administration, and client relationships. She is responsible for day-to-day office operations, generating and overseeing proposal submissions, marketing efforts, contract administration, team recruitment, and coordination and administration of the summer internship program. In addition, she is involved in developing business among existing clients and new clients which contribute significantly to corporate revenues.

Ms. Gerhard is part of the fourth generation of Hudson family members working in the business, working side by side with her father, Robert S. Hudson, P.E., to lead S. T. Hudson Engineers, Inc.

Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Vice President & Director of Marine Engineering and Environmental Services
Anthony DePasquale, P.E. Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Anthony DePasquale, P.E.

Vice President & Director of Marine Engineering and Environmental Services

Mr. DePasquale is a Civil & Geo-technical Engineer with 37 years of experience as a designer, construction manager, negotiator, and permitting consultant with the US Army Corps of Engineers. He specializes in the design, management, and construction of flood protection systems, bulkhead rehabilitation, and waste and dredge disposal containment facilities.

In addition, he has reviewed and negotiated numerous construction contract claims, permitting issues, and engineering disputes. Mr. DePasquale's experience has given S.T. Hudson valuable insight into the permitting process and environmental impact assessments from the viewpoint of the USACE and other regulatory agencies.

William Jenkins

Vice President & Director of Marine Services
William Jenkins William Jenkins

William Jenkins

Vice President & Director of Marine Services

Mr. Jenkins has 17 years of experience and a comprehensive knowledge of various hydrographic technologies and methods.

Recently, Mr. Jenkins has applied his talents to implementing various multibeam hydrographic surveys for ship navigation safety, object detection, clearance surveys, sediment transfer surveys, pre- and post-dredge surveys, and bridge inspection scour monitoring.

Project Details

For the Delaware River & Bay Authority, having safe, operational ferry transfer bridges is critical for commuters and tourists traveling between Cape May and Lewes. After nearly 60 years of functioning for the communities, the original bridges were ready for a major overhaul. S. T. Hudson served as the lead engineering firm for this replacement project, planning, designing, and overseeing construction for 5 new bridges.

For nearly 60 years, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry has been serving the mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast, launching its first vessel in 1964 after years of planning. Serving the interests of both states, the Delaware River & Bay Authority oversees operation for the ferry as well as several other structures. With three vessels in operation, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry transports both pedestrians and vehicles for recreational and business purposes. It also serves as an emergency evacuation route. When the ferries dock, they connect to transfer bridges that allow cars and passengers to unload. They’re a critical infrastructure—without the bridges, the ferry wouldn’t be able to operate.

After nearly 20 years of working with the Delaware River & Bay Authority, S. T. Hudson was the ideal partner to oversee the transfer bridge project. The bridges go back to the inception of the ferry line in the mid-1960s, and after years of use and only restorative repairs, the DRBA decided a replacement was in order. With bridges of this age, many original parts can’t be replaced, meaning when something breaks, the whole bridge goes out of commission. S. T. Hudson was tasked with designing new bridges and overseeing their installation. Timing was critical for this project, and S. T. Hudson’s astute precision has been invaluable for this, ensuring that each bridge is out of commission for only 30 days and allowing for continuous operation.

Our Services

  • Preliminary field survey
  • Drafting of all required project plans and specifications
  • Preparation of all local, state, and federal environmental permits required
  • Structural design of new transfer bridges and gantry repairs
  • Design of all required mechanical equipment
  • Develop all required electrical and control systems
  • Provide on-site construction management services for:
    - Reconstruction of the foundation
    - Replacement of the drawbridge and deck
    - Replacement of frame and counterweights that raise and lower structure

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