Bristol Township announced Thursday phase one work on the Randall Avenue Bridge is now complete with plans to launch phase two work before the end of 2024.
The phase one work was completed last weekend – removal of the concrete encasement from the steel girders and floor beams and installing timber shielding within the bays above the track areas – officials said yesterday.
The work on the bridge, closed now for about 19 months due to concrete from the bridge falling onto the train tracks below, was originally slated to begin the weekend of June 21 and was delayed by Amtrak on three separate occasions for infrastructure related issues. The work required powering down railway lines for periods of 55 hours each for Haines and Kibblehouse work crews to remove concrete and install the shielding. H & K started the phase one work on the bridge back on July 19.
Credit: Bristol Twp
Phase two of the project has yet to go out for bid, township officials said. That work includes abutment repairs, bearing replacements, and repair of the potholes exposing the joint steel at bridge transitions.
The township received $975,000 from PennDOT for abutment repairs before the bridge was closed in February 2023. At the township’s request, 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 the 169-foot bridge in March of this year.
Township officials continue to seek grants and funding for the design and construction of a new bridge saying such an undertaking would cost millions.
“We anticipate issuing the updated plans, specs, and contract documents to our list of interested contractors within the next week or so and hope to receive proposals by the end of October/early November in order to begin phase two work before the end of the year,” said Township Manager Randee Mazur.
Credit: Bristol Twp
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