PennDOT to Begin Construction November 4 on New Spring Mount Road Bridge in Lower Frederick Township
King of Prussia – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that construction is scheduled to begin Wednesday (November 4) on a $4.6 million project to replace the Spring Mount Road Bridge in Lower Frederick and Upper Salford townships, Montgomery County. The new bridge is scheduled to open in October 2010.
A posted detour will go into effect November 4 and Spring Mount Road through traffic will be detoured over Main Street (Route 29/73), Park Avenue, and Schwenksville Road. Emergency vehicles will be detoured over Main Street (Route 29/73), Haldeman Road, Dieber Road, and Pennypacker Road. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
In preparation for the bridge closure crews have been working this week to improve traffic signals and install emergency pre-emption devices at the intersections of Main Street (Route 29/73) and Park Avenue and Main Street (Route 29/73) and Haldeman Road.
Beginning Wednesday (November 4), crews will close the bridge and begin clearing trees and brush around the structure and relocating a gas main. Demolition of the bridge is expected to start in early December.
Crews will replace the existing stone arch bridge with a three-span, prestressed concrete beam bridge.
The existing bridge was built in 1869. It is 202 feet long and 17 feet wide, and carries approximately 4,200 vehicles daily. Because of its deteriorated condition, the bridge was posted with a 13-ton weight restriction and was inspected yearly. The new bridge will be 28-feet wide with two 11-foot travel lanes and two 3-foot shoulders. A 12-foot wide bike path connected to the Perkiomen Trail will also be included on the bridge.
The Spring Mount Road Bridge was closed in January 2008 for a week after inspectors a five-foot hole in a wing wall that supports the roadway approaching the stone arch bridge
Loftus Construction Company, Inc., of Cinnaminson, N.J., is the general contractor on the $4,643,000 project that is financed with 100 percent state funds.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
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