U.S 1 Bucks County Widening & Improvement Projects (Sections RC1 & RC2)

Construction continues this summer in Lower Bucks County on two adjacent contracts to improve U.S. 1 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.

The contracts, RC1 and RC2, are part of PennDOT's three-phase project to improve four miles of U.S. 1 in Bucks County.

Reconstruction of the southbound side of U.S. 1 from Old Lincoln Highway to north of the Turnpike continues to progress this summer, highlighted by construction on bridges over the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Turnpike ramps, and Street Road (Route 132).

Deck construction is underway on the northbound side of the new bridges over the Turnpike and Street Road (Route 132). Placement of the new concrete decks on both new spans is expected in late summer. Abutment construction will continue through the summer on the new northbound bridge over Turnpike ramps with deck construction in the fall.

As bridge construction continues, subsurface utilities and parts of the stormwater drainage system also are being installed along the southbound side of the U.S. 1 roadway, and sound walls are being installed along the southbound side between Street Road (Route 132) and the commercial area approaching Old Lincoln Highway.

The new southbound U.S. 1 ramps to and from Street Road (Route 132) remain closed, except for the ramp from U.S. 1 that is temporarily being used to connect to eastbound and westbound Street Road.

On Street Road (Route 132), eastbound reconstruction continues in coordination with construction of the southbound side of the U.S. 1 overpass.

Construction on the $94 million RC1 project will continue into mid-2022.

Excavation continues behind concrete barriers along both sides of U.S. 1 north of the Turnpike Interchange for the construction of retaining walls and embankments. The walls and embankments will support construction of a third travel lane, along with an auxiliary lane, in each direction from just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike's Bensalem Interchange through the Penndel/Business U.S. 1 Interchange.

Foundations for abutments and piers for the new southbound bridge over the Neshaminy Creek are under construction. Once foundations are in place, crews will begin the methodical work of building the supports for the new structure.

Work on the project's second set of large bridges, which will replace the bridges over the Penndel Interchange and adjacent rail lines, will begin later this year after the existing utility lines are relocated.

Excavation to widen the northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp from Business U.S. 1/Penndel also is underway. Construction to reconfigure and improve the Neshaminy Interchange will be done during a later stage of the project. Improvements to the interchanges will meet current design standards for ramps and acceleration/deceleration lanes.

The $110.9 million RC2 project is scheduled to be completed in mid-2026.

Bucks County: $94 million and $110.9 million

More About the U.S. 1 Bucks County Widening & Improvement Projects

Allens Lane Bridge Replacement Project

On July 7, PennDOT reopened the Allens Lane bridge over SEPTA's Chestnut Hill West Regional Rail Line in the West Mount Airy section of Philadelphia following replacement. Allens Lane had been closed and detoured between South Cresheim Road and North Cresheim Road since May 2019.

This project was driven by the need to replace the bridge due to the condition of the deck, superstructure and substructure. The substructure had been built in 1893 and the superstructure built in 1908, had both exhibited significant deterioration and were rated in poor condition at the time of the bridge closure. The bridge deck, built in 1961, had also exhibited heavy spalling and was rated in serious condition.

The project's completion provides a long-term transportation facility that is structurally sound, capable of handling the volume of expected traffic along this state highway and ensures a safe and efficient crossing along a locally important network.

Philadelphia County: $5 million

Chestnut Street Bridges Rehabilitation Project

Repairs continue on structures over Interstate 76 on the west side of the river while rehabilitation of the Chestnut Street stone arch bridge over the CSX Railroad on the east side of the river has been delayed by unforeseen scheduling conflicts, delaying completion of the bridge over the Schuylkill River until fall 2021.

Construction crews have rehabilitated the river bridge's structural components, placed a new concrete deck and sidewalks, and installed the bridge’s new decorative lighting and parapet rails. A parking-protected eastbound bicycle lane will be painted when the final lane markings are applied prior to reopening.

On the stone-arch spans, crews have removed the original facia stones — charting each for resetting in its original location — and are placing lightweight fill to strengthen the arch barrels on the structures prior to replacing the stones. The main bridge cannot reopen to vehicular traffic until both 150-year-old structures are modified to strengthen their arch supports and reconstruct their masonry components and decks.

Repairs to a retaining wall supporting the Trail against the eastern bank of the river under Chestnut Street also wrapped up and the Trail reopened on July 2.

Work also has been substantially completed on the repair and rehabilitation of two adjacent viaducts carrying Schuylkill Avenue over Interstate 76 on the west side of the river. The viaducts' structural components were repaired or replaced prior to re-decking, work that was done in stages in order to minimize travel impacts in the busy area adjacent to 30th Street Station.

New sidewalks, decorative parapets and lighting also were installed on the separate viaduct structures between Market and Chestnut streets, and between Chestnut and Walnut streets. Protective shielding and new lighting on the underside of these viaducts will be installed this summer to complete improvements to the structures.

I-76 on- and off-ramps at 30th Street also were repaired and resurfaced as part of the project, as was a separate viaduct carrying Chestnut Street over the 30th Street Station facilities.

Construction-related lane closures on Chestnut Street west of the river and travel restrictions on the Schuylkill Avenue viaduct also were lifted in early July.

Repairs to strengthen the "river wall" that helps support I-76 where it abuts the west side of the Schuylkill River beneath Schuylkill Avenue from Walnut Street to Chestnut Street are expected to finish this summer as well.

Prior to the river bridge reopening in fall 2021, Chestnut Street will be milled and repaved between 22nd Street and 31st Street.

Philadelphia County: $103.3 million

More About the Chestnut Street Bridges Rehabilitation Project