One of the nation's great bridges, and once the longest suspension bridge in the world, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge was designed by acclaimed architect and engineer Paul Cret (who also designed the Benjamin Franklin Parkway). The bridge was constructed in 1926 as the first span linking Philadelphia and Camden and today stands as an elegant centerpiece for the Central Delaware. Its dynamic lighting system was designed by the firm Venturi Scott-Brown in 1986 in commemoration of the bicentennial of the U.S. constitution. The bridge allows for crossings by car, transit by PATCO high-speed rail on a separate rail right-of-way, as well as a popular pedestrian and bike way. The bridge is managed by the Delaware River Port Authority.