Historic ship docked in Philadelphia destined to become the largest artificial reef in the world in the Gulf of Mexico will leave the city at the end of next week, and its departure will cause the temporary closure of three major bridges between Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

On November 15, for the first time in 30 years, the SS United States will travel down the Delaware River to the Atlantic Ocean, beginning a roughly two-week journey to Mobile. Alabama. Once there, it will be prepared to be sunk.

Okaloosa County, Florida, purchased the boat last month. reuse it as an artificial reef, turning it into an addition to the peninsula’s seabed to grow diving tourism in the area.

Workers will move the ship from its berth at Pier 82 in Philadelphia to Pier 80 on Nov. 14, where it will remain overnight until low tide the next day, which is forecast for 6:59 a.m. The Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry bridges will be closed while the ship is towed out to sea, Okaloosa County officials announced Wednesday.

The bridges between Philadelphia and South Jersey are managed by the Delaware River Port Authority. The transportation agency said there were no plans to close the bridges completely, but said traffic would likely be briefly stopped.

“This action will be taken as a safety precaution and to minimize driver distraction,” agency officials told NJ Advance Media. “The exact timing and expected duration will be announced as plans are finalized and the move-in date approaches, giving drivers enough time to plan their trip accordingly.”

The ship will eventually pass under the Delaware Memorial Bridge, but traffic is not expected to stop, said a spokesman for the Delaware River Bay Authority, which manages the structure.

It was unclear whether the closures would happen simultaneously or once the ship reaches each bridge.

The departure plan is subject to change, officials and those interested in following the ship’s progress said. you can do it online.

Officials expect the ship to spend about a year at the Alabama dock to prepare it to become an artificial reef.

Eric Conklin can be contacted at [email protected].