Two New U.S. 1 Bridges Finish this Fall
As new bridge construction wraps up at two locations on U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships, deck placement begins on the new northbound structure over the Neshaminy Creek (see below) as PennDOT’s $111 million project to widen and improve U.S.1 in Bucks County progresses toward completion by mid-2025.
On the new U.S. 1 southbound structure over the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange, installation of sound wall panels along the southbound lanes approaching and on the new bridge will complete this twin structure to the adjacent northbound bridge that finished in 2023. Southbound traffic is expected to be shifted onto the new southbound bridge in October.
Southbound U.S. 1 traffic was shifted in September onto the new southbound U.S. 1 bridge over Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy Exit, completing bridge replacement at the interchange (see below). The on-ramp from westbound Rockhill Drive to southbound U.S. 1 also was reopened at the same time. Access to this ramp from eastbound Rockhill Drive and Horizon Boulevard will be opened later this year.
On Rockhill Drive under the new U.S. 1 bridges, work has shifted into the final stages of widening and reconstruction at the interchange. Crews began work to complete the middle section of the roadway, temporarily closing access to the new ramp to U.S. 1 north for motorists on westbound Rockhill Drive. Westbound traffic is being detoured to Old Lincoln Highway south, to Street Road east, and the ramp to northbound U.S. 1 until work on Rockhill Drive finishes in December.
At the bridge over the Neshaminy Creek, deck steel has been set and deck construction is underway through the end of the year. Construction of the new southbound bridge over the creek was finished in mid-2023 and is now carrying four lanes of northbound and southbound traffic through the three-plus mile work area.
Between the three bridges, work continues through the end of the year on completing three northbound and southbound lanes on U.S. 1 (see below). A final paving “wearing course” will be placed along the entire project area next spring during the final stage of the project that began in 2021.
Section RC2 is part two of PennDOT’s three-phase project to improve approximately five miles of U.S. 1 in Bucks County by reconstructing and widening the pavement, replacing several bridges, and improving several interchanges along a continuous section of highway in Bensalem and Middletown townships. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2025, approximately a year ahead of the original contract completion date.
PennDOT in 2014 completed $14.8 million in improvements at the U.S. 1/Maple Avenue Interchange in Middletown Township as part of their overall initiative to modernize and upgrade the U.S. 1 corridor in Bucks County.
A third project, RC3, will improve U.S. 1 from the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange north through the Route 413 overpass. The project remains in Final Design and is not yet scheduled for construction.