Last month ground was broken along New Falls Road in Bristol Township for the future redevelopment of the Lower Bucks Government Services Center site.  Bucks County Commissioners broke ground where the updated Lower Bucks Government Services Center will be constructed. This project will greatly improve public access to county government.“ For far too long, essential government offices and services have been difficult, if not impossible to access for too many residents of Bucks County,” said Chief Operating Officer Margie McKevitt. “This administration considers it our obligation to ensure the county government serves everyone who lives and works here, and we’re proud to be taking this tremendous step today toward meeting that goal.”

The future two-story, 39,000 square foot building will house accessible offices for 13 County departments, including some row offices and court offices. The ceremonial ground-breaking came just days after Bristol Township Council approved the massive undertaking at the site that sits along New Falls Road in Levittown.Currently the  site houses an annex for county government, a homeless shelter operated by Family Services the district attorney’s warehouse, the Levittown Branch of the Bucks County Free Library, and District Judge Terry Hughes’ court. The new building will replace the existing, outdated 8,600 square foot county government providing updated workspaces for departments in the existing building, while offsite departments will be housed into a single, convenient location.

The existing Lower Bucks County Government Services Center building has been in place for 30 years. Permanent offices in the new building will accommodate the following departments:
Adult Probation
Board of Elections
Children & Youth Social Services Agency
Consumer Protection/Weights & Measures
District Attorney’s Office
Domestic Relations
Health Department
Juvenile Probation
Prothonotary
Register of Wills
Sheriff’s Office
Veterans’ Affairs
Workforce & Economic Development

Construction costs are estimated at about $25 million, but it is not yet finalized. Some work is still out to bid. The bidding process for this project is expected to conclude by the end of the year, officials said.  Construction is set to start in early 2024, with anticipated completion slated for 2026. County officials said the facility will “greatly improve public access to county government.

Designs for the new building have been produced by Erdy McHenry Architecture. Land Development Engineering Services provided by Carroll Engineering. Construction Management will be performed by TN Ward Company.

Township Manager Randee Elton said the county committed to adding sidewalks around the area, but when that happens depends on grant funding for the undertaking along Wistar and Woodbourne roads.

Officials said 70 employees will work out of the new facilities when fully operational, whereas about 40 do so presently.The existing wing will be torn down by the county. The county said it had no plans to demolish any of the other buildings at the site.   Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen said the lower end of the county has always felt left out of county government, but that has changed over the past decade.  No other buildings will be  removed officials said and the space that houses the probation and parole department and other official offices will go back on to the “tax rolls” for a private entity to purchase and develop.Bowen was really excited  about that prospect. It’s a win, win for us (Bristol Twp) he said,  we get a new office center and a property back on the rolls “This is definitely what we needed down here,” he said. 8888 County Chief Operating Officer Margie McKevitt said it’s the county’s duty to make its offices accessible to all residents of  Bucks County. For far too long, essential government offices and services have been difficult, if not impossible to access for too many residents of Bucks County,” she said “This administration considers it our obligation to ensure county government serves everyone who lives and works here, and we’re proud to be taking this tremendous step today toward meeting that goal.”