Category: News

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.

Two New U.S.1 Bridges Nearing Completion

Summer 2024 – Construction continues this summer on new bridges at three locations along U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships under PennDOT’s $111 million project to widen and improve U.S. 1 in  Bucks County.

Deck construction on the U.S. 1 southbound structure over the Penndel/Business 1 Interchange and adjacent rail lines finished in late spring. Work at that location this summer will focus on construction of the bridge’s approach pavement, completion of parapets, and installation of sound wall panels along the southbound lanes approaching the new bridge.

The new southbound bridge is expected to be finished and carrying traffic by late summer. The northbound bridge was finished in spring 2023.

At the bridge over the Neshaminy Creek, abutments and center piers for the new northbound bridge over the creek along with retaining walls at the bridge’s approaches are nearing completion. Beam setting and deck construction are scheduled to start in July and finish later this 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 work area. 

Construction is nearing completion at the southbound U.S. 1 bridge over Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy Exit south of the creek. Deck beams were set in April and deck construction finished in late fall. Parapet construction will finish in late summer.

Adjacent to and under the bridge, work continues on the ramps on the southbound side of the interchange and on improvements to Rockhill Drive that are part of the interchange upgrade. While the on-ramp to southbound U.S. 1 is still closed for construction, the southbound U.S. 1 off-ramp to Rockhill Drive remains open during construction.

The opening of the new southbound bridge over Rockhill Drive and the adjacent southbound on-ramp is expected to reopen later this summer in coordination with the opening of the new southbound bridge at the Penndel/Business 1 Interchange. The new northbound bridge at the Neshaminy Interchange also finished last summer.

Between the three bridges, U.S. 1 is being widened to a third lane in each direction. Pavement is being placed at locations between the bridges as excavation and drainage improvements are completed in those areas. Paving will continue through late this year. The final paving course will be placed along the entire project area next spring.

Section RC2 is part two 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. 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 1 Interchange north through the Route 413 overpass. The project remains in Final Design and is not yet scheduled for construction.

Three U.S.1 Bridges Headed for Completion

Bridge construction is headed for completion this summer at three locations along U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships under PennDOT’s $111 million project to widen and improve  U.S. 1 in  Bucks County.

Deck construction on the U.S. 1 southbound structure over the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange and adjacent rail lines resumes this spring while four lanes of traffic use the new northbound bridge that finished in Spring 2023.

Crews at the Neshaminy Creek Bridge have completed the abutments and are building center piers for the new northbound bridge over the creek along with retaining walls at the bridge’s approaches. Beam setting and deck construction will follow later this spring. 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 work area. 

Construction also continues at the southbound U.S. 1 bridge over Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy exit south of the creek. Deck beams were set in April and deck construction will start in mid-May. The new northbound bridge at this interchange also finished last summer.

Adjacent to and under the bridge, work continues on the ramps on the southbound side of the interchange and on improvements to Rockhill Drive that are part of the interchange upgrade.  While the on-ramp to southbound U.S.  1 is still closed for construction, the southbound U.S. 1 off-ramp to Rockhill Drive remains open during construction.

Between the three bridges, U.S. 1 is being widened to accommodate a third lane in each direction. Paving is being placed at locations between the bridges in those areas as excavation and drainage improvements are completed in construction that will continue through spring 2025.

Section RC2 is part two 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. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2025.

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.

Work Continues on Three Bridges This Winter

Construction continues this winter on three new replacement bridges that are part of the roadway improvements under the $111 million project to widen and improve U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships, Bucks County.

New structures over the Neshaminy Creek, the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange and adjacent rail lines, and Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy Exit remain in various stages of completion.

Crews at the Neshaminy Creek Bridge are building abutments and center piers for the new northbound bridge over the creek (see above). 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 work area.

North of the creek, deck construction is underway on the new southbound bridge over the interchange (see above) while four lanes of traffic use the new northbound bridge that finished last spring.

Construction also continues at the southbound U.S. 1 bridge over Rockhill Drive (see bottom image) at the Neshaminy exit south of the creek. The new northbound bridge at this interchange also finished last summer.

Adjacent to the bridge, work continues on the ramps on the southbound side of the interchange through next spring. While the on-ramp to southbound U.S. 1 is still closed for construction, the southbound U.S. 1 off-ramp to Rockhill Drive remains open during construction.

Between the three bridges, U.S. 1 is being widened to accommodate a third lane in each direction. Pavement is being placed at locations between the bridges in those areas as excavation and drainage improvements are completed.

Section RC2 is part two 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. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

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 is beginning the Environmental Assessment phase and is not yet scheduled for construction.

Bridge Construction Continues at Three Locations Along U.S. 1

Construction progresses this fall on three new bridges being replaced under the $111 million project to widen and improve U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships, Bucks County.

New structures over the Neshaminy Creek, the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange and adjacent rail lines, and Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy Exit remain in various stages of construction.

The northbound side of the old bridge over the Neshaminy Creek was dismantled over the summer, and crews are now building abutments and a center support column for the new northbound span. The new southbound bridge over the creek was finished earlier in the year and is now carrying four lanes of northbound and southbound traffic (see above).

At the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 exit north of the creek, traffic is using the new northbound bridge over the interchange while the adjacent southbound structure is being built. Crews set deck beams for the new bridge in late summer (see above) and will continue the process of building the new bridge’s deck through the remainder of the year.

At the Neshaminy exit south of the creek, where work on the new northbound bridge finished in mid-summer, construction is now underway on the new southbound side of the overpass at Rockhill Drive.

The new northbound off-on ramps at Rockhill Drive, now both located at the southeast quadrant of the interchange, are in service while work continues on the ramps on the southbound side of the interchange through next spring (see right). While the on-ramp to southbound U.S. 1 is still closed for construction, the southbound U.S. 1 off-ramp to Rockhill Drive remains open during construction.

Activity on U.S. 1 between the Turnpike and the bridge over Rockhill Drive has shifted to the median area, where crews are installing new drainage components and sign structures prior to constructing new pavement (see below).

Section RC2 is part two 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. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

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.

Bridge Construction This Summer at Three Locations Along U.S. 1

As four lanes of U.S. 1 traffic weave through the work zone from the Turnpike Interchange to north of the Penndel Exit (see below), PennDOT’s contractor continues making progress on three new bridges and other improvements being completed under the $111 million project to widen and improve U.S. 1 in Bensalem and Middletown townships, Bucks County.

New structures over the Neshaminy Creek, the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange and adjacent rail lines, and Rockhill Drive at the Neshaminy Exit are in various stages of completion.

Near the center of the mile-long work area, crews are dismantling the existing northbound bridge over the Neshaminy Creek (see right) and will begin building abutments for the new span this summer.

Four lanes of northbound and southbound U.S. 1 traffic were shifted onto the new southbound Neshaminy Creek bridge last spring following completion of roadway improvements on both sides of the bridge. 

North of the creek, abutment and center support pier construction continue on the new southbound bridge at the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange (see below). Working through the challenges of building a bridge over busy SEPTA/CSX rail lines and imposing PECO electric line towers, crews expect to finish building the bridge’s supports and installing deck beams in late September, with deck work continuing into the fall.

Up the hill south of the creek, vehicles are riding on new southbound pavement and shoulders and then over the existing southbound bridge over Rockhill Drive while the northbound side of the bridge is being constructed. The new northbound bridge is anticipated to be completed in early August. Once the northbound side is completed, traffic will be shifted onto the rebuilt section while crews demolish and reconstruct the southbound side of the overpass.

The stop sign at the end of the ramp from the Turnpike to northbound U.S. 1 also will be removed at this time as traffic entering the expressway will have a continuous third lane to merge with mainline traffic.

Last spring, following completion of a long retaining wall to support the widened northbound pavement approaching the Neshaminy exit, traffic leaving and entering U.S. 1 was shifted onto new northbound on-off ramps. Traffic was placed on the new off-ramp at the Penndel exit as well.

The on-ramp to southbound U.S. 1 from Rockhill Drive remains closed for construction to improve the interchange. While the rebuilt southbound off-ramp here remains open, crews will reconstruct the southbound on-ramp during construction of the southbound side of the overpass, which is expected to be completed and the ramp reopened next spring.

Excavation north of the Turnpike continues in the shoulder areas to allow for the construction of an additional travel lane in both directions on U.S. 1 through the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange. Widened sections on the northbound side will be completed and opened to traffic following completion of the new northbound bridge over the Neshaminy Creek.

Section RC2 is part two 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. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

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.

Work this spring will focus on the construction of three new bridges on U.S. 1 along with the continued widening of the highway to construct an additional travel lane in each direction.

With all lanes of traffic now on the rebuilt northbound portion of the U.S. 1 bridge over the Penndel/Business 1 Interchange and adjacent CSX/SEPTA rail lines, demolition began in January to prepare for the construction of the southbound side of the structure (see below). The old bridge’s remaining support piers will be demolished this spring as crews construct the abutments for the new southbound span.

Immediately south of this bridge, work will wrap up in early spring on a new traffic pattern that shifts northbound and southbound traffic onto the new southbound bridge over the Neshaminy Creek that was completed last fall (see bottom photo). Once both directions of traffic are placed on the new bridge, the existing northbound bridge will be demolished, and work will begin on the new northbound side of the creek crossing.

Work continues to replace the northbound side of the Rockhill Drive bridge over U.S. 1, with both directions of traffic traveling on the existing southbound side. Once the northbound side is completed, traffic will be shifted onto the rebuilt section while crews demolish and reconstruct the southbound side. The on-ramp to southbound U.S. 1 from Rockhill Drive remains closed for construction to improve the interchange.

Excavation north of the Turnpike continues in the shoulder areas to allow for the construction of an additional travel lane in both directions on U.S. 1 through the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange. On the northbound side approaching the Neshaminy Exit, construction of a retaining wall to support the embankment for construction of a new off-ramp to Rockhill Drive (see above-right).

Section RC2 is part two 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. RC2 construction is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

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.