Days after the Randall Avenue Bridge reopened, having been closed for just under three years, Lower Bucks Source asked Bristol Township Manager Randee Mazur what’s next now that the span has reopened.
“A Haines Road Bridge” she said.
This wasn’t the first time the idea of constructing a new bridge in the Edgely section had been mentioned by township officials.
Mazur and Council President Craig Bowen mentioned the idea during Council meetings last year.
At last week’s Council meeting, the township said it was now ready to fully explore the possibility of constructing a span crossing over the railway lines on Haines Road leading onto Radcliffe Street, essentially parallel to the Randall Ave. Bridge.
Officials said exploring the idea might be a more suitable and safer long-term solution considering current weight restrictions and past structural issues with the Randall Ave. Bridge.
Mazur said the township is looking into the feasibility of a new bridge connecting Haines Road and Radcliffe Street.
Signage posted on Radcliffe St in Bristol Township warning motorists of weight restrictions on the Randall Ave Bridge
Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source
Bristol Township Police have been on a special traffic weight detail targeting trucks/vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tons crossing the more than 120-year-old bridge. The public safety-focused infrastructure effort was launched, Sgt. Jason Mancuso said, after Edgely residents sent the township video clips of “heavy trucks” crossing the recently reopened span.
Truck drivers have frequently ignored the weight limit restrictions which has led to structural damage to the bridge.
“We have to protect not only the township residents,” Mancuso said, “but its properties, too.”
The Randall Ave Bridge was closed due to concrete from the bridge falling onto the railroad tracks below.
Rep Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) announced, earlier this month, he secured $500,000.00 for the township so a Haines Rd bridge can be constructed.
The first step into building a Haines Road Bridge involves issuing requests for proposals (RFPs) for a concept plan and analysis of the existing Randall Avenue structure, Mazur said.
A bridge on Haines Road will require the township to acquire private property between the road and Radcliffe St. for the project to move forward.
“Our proposal is right now we’re looking for RFPs for a concept plan to do an analysis on the existing Randall Avenue Bridge,” Mazur said. “What we hope to do is create a Haines Road bridge.”
Constructing such a bridge will likely lead to the demise of the Randall Ave Bridge, Mazur said.
The recently reopened Randall Ave Bridge
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