Morrisville, PA - The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission awarded a contract today for the design, construction and maintenance of an electronic surveillance / detection system that will enhance security and upgrade communications systems at its bridges and facilities to provide improved safety for Commission staff and the traveling public.

Over the course of the next 18 months, video surveillance equipment, similar to that used by the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Departments of Transportation, will be installed at Commission bridges and facilities to provide added security and improve the Commission's capacity to respond to accidents and other incidents at its bridges buildings, and other structures. The system will also improve the Commission's ability to respond to major incidents, such as flooding, and provide assistance to local communities where needed.

Other enhancements include improvements to the Commission's communications systems, the installation of new security and access control systems for its buildings and other facilities, and the creation of a central control center to coordinate the response to incidents. The video equipment will also advance the Commission's efforts to develop an Intelligent Transportation System that will help to manage traffic and congestion on its bridges and roadways.

"We are pleased to be moving forward with the implementation of this system to improve the security and safety of our bridges, the public, and our employees," said Frank G. McCartney, Executive Director of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. "In addition, to enhancing our security, this system will provide daily benefits to the traveling public by allowing us to respond more rapidly to incidents such as accidents or break-downs, reducing the impact on traffic and congestion."

The contract was awarded to a team led by Mass. Electric Construction Company of Whitestone, New York for design-build services and 3 years of maintenance services for an amount not-to-exceed $20,589,000.00. Mass.