The Randall Avenue Bridge, almost three years to the date, will reopen for motorists and alike next Wednesday, Bristol Township announced Friday.
The on-and-off and then hurry up and wait 35-month odyssey will conclude midweek, Township Manager Randee Mazur said.
Township officials had hoped for a December 2025 opening. With a project this large and impacting so many, including private entities such as PECO, the opening was slightly delayed, officials announced late last year.
“This project has been a long time coming, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation shown by our residents. Reopening the Randall Avenue Bridge is an important milestone for our community and demonstrates Township Council’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure needs while maintaining safety as our top priority,” Township Council President Craig Bowen said.
Giuliani Construction is in the final stages of construction activities and will work on the more than 100-year-old span preparing for its opening on Wednesday. There was a strong potential that the bridge would be opened for a short period of time and closed for final paving shortly thereafter.
Mazur put those concerns to rest in last week’s press release.
“The final wearing course is scheduled to be installed on Tuesday, weather permitting, allowing the bridge to safely reopen the following day. By completing the final paving at this time, the roadway will not require an additional closure during the summer months.”
Bristol Township closed the bridge on February 23, 2023, due to critical safety concerns involving deteriorating concrete and its proximity to the AMTRAK rail corridor. Over the course of this multi-phase project, Bristol Township worked closely with numerous partners to safely complete the necessary repairs, Mazur pointed out.
But before those partnerships, frustration was with Amtrak and their lack of responsiveness to the needs of the township boiling over. This culminated in a community meeting at the municipal complex about one year after the bridge was closed.
Once the project got underway, many work delays were tied to rail line shutdowns. This included scheduling a specialized high-rail train for repairs to be made, and seeking the appropriate contractors for structural work to be performed.
According to township documents, costs for repairs were offset by $975,000.00 from PennDOT for abutment repairs before the bridge was closed. PennDOT approved redirecting the funds to address the more immediate safety concerns. An additional $2 million in state funds was allocated to complete abutment work on the 169-foot bridge in March of 2024.
State Senator Steve Santarsiero and Representative Tina Davis (both Democrats) helped secure a $2 million Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant, which made the final abutment repairs possible.
Throughout the process once work got under way the township realizing the growing interest and local frustration about what was going to happen next with the bridge posted special community update bulletins on the township website page.
You can follow the timeline covering the issues, challenges, of how the restoration project first stalled and then proceeded at this link
Bristol Township extends its appreciation to A. Giuliani & Co. Inc. for their efficient and timely work on the roadway base repairs and final paving, eliminating the need for a future summer closure. The Township also recognizes Haines & Kibblehouse for completing the Phase I substructure repairs and Loftus Construction for performing Phase II abutment repairs that were critical to the bridge’s long-term stability.
The reopening of the bridge will additionally benefit area first responders, most likely reducing by emergency response times compared to current practices.
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA 1) also played an integral role in facilitating discussions with Amtrak officials at the federal level.
“From the outset, this effort has been guided by a shared responsibility to protect lives while restoring a vital connection for our community. The moment it became clear this bridge had to close, the work began—without hesitation. In close partnership with Bristol Township Manager Randee Mazur, Amtrak, and our federal partners, we brought together every level of government to reach this milestone,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “This reopening marks real progress, but it is not the finish line. We will continue working together to ensure this bridge—and all the infrastructure that serves our community—are safe, reliable, and ready for the future.”
Randal Ave Bridge Closed
Credit: Lower Bucks Source
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