Three Bridges Completed, Two Under Construction on U.S. 1
Construction crews made significant progress on new bridges over the past winter, finishing the southbound bridge over the Turnpike ramps, completing much of the abutment and pier construction for the new southbound U.S. 1 bridge over the Neshaminy Creek, and beginning abutment and pier construction for the new northbound U.S. 1 bridge at the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 exit.
The bridge work and other construction is being done under two PennDOT projects (RC1, RC2) currently underway to improve U.S. 1 in Bucks County.
RC2 Bridge Progress
Crews are putting the finishing touches on the supports for the new southbound U.S. 1 bridge over the Neshaminy Creek (see below), and preparing to set deck beams and begin deck construction later this spring. PennDOT’s contractor will finish the southbound structure this summer.
As work continues on the creek bridge, construction continues on two abutments and three piers for the new northbound U.S. 1 bridge over the rail lines and ramps at the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 interchange this spring. Installation of deck beams is expected this summer.
On U.S. 1 between the Turnpike Interchange and the Bristol Road overpass, the contractor will work this spring to prepare the median to carry traffic during upcoming traffic pattern shifts around the bridge work areas.
In addition, southbound embankment excavation has finished, and installation of the project’s stormwater drainage system is underway there. Northbound embankment excavation continues, with drainage work to follow. Embankments along both sides of U.S. 1 are being excavated for construction of a third travel lane in each direction from just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Bensalem Interchange to the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange.
At the Neshaminy Interchange, the contractor will shift traffic away from the Rockhill Drive median area and begin work to add a center pier for the new U.S. 1 overpass following completion of utility work later this spring.
The $110.9 million RC2 project is scheduled to be completed in mid-2026.
RC1 Heading for Completion this Summer
With completion over the winter of the southbound side of the U.S. 1 bridge over the Turnpike ramps, new RC1 bridges are now in place over the Turnpike ramps, the Turnpike, and Street Road (Route 132).
Southbound U.S. 1 paving between Street Road (Route 132) and the commercial area approaching Old Lincoln Highway will be finished this spring, wrapping up major work on U.S. 1.
Reconstruction of the westbound side of Street Road through the U.S. 1 Interchange area continues until later this spring. The contractor will next install a permanent median barrier, then open the new ramp from Street Road to southbound U.S. 1 this summer to complete the work on the busy roadway.
As has been the case throughout construction, access to and from properties located on both sides of U.S. 1 will continue to be maintained until the $94 million RC1 project comes to a close in mid-2022.
The contracts, RC1 and RC2, are part of PennDOT’s three-phase project to improve four miles of U.S. 1 in Bucks County by reconstructing and widening the pavement, building several bridges, and improving several interchanges along a continuous three-mile section of highway in Bensalem and Middletown townships.
PennDOT in 2014 completed $14.8 million in improvements at the U.S. 1/Maple Avenue Interchange in Middletown Township (see above) as part of their overall initiative to modernize and upgrade the U.S. 1 corridor in Bucks County.