The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) today announced that the new Geigel Hill Road bridge over Tinicum Creek in Tinicum Township, Bucks County will open on Tuesday, July 12, six weeks ahead of schedule.
“We are delighted to be just days away from reopening Geigel Hill Road and providing Tinicum Township with a new bridge that will enhance mobility in the area,” PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso said. “We worked closely with our contractor to expedite construction so we could turn our attention to building two new bridges on Headquarters Road.”
Once construction is completed, Tinicum Township will take ownership of the new Geigel Hill Road bridge.
PennDOT began construction to build the new one-span, steel beam bridge on February 7, 2011. The new bridge is 15 feet wide and 58 feet long. It will be adorned with an ornamental pony truss to resemble the former bridge.
The previous one-span, steel through truss bridge was built in 1887. The bridge was closed in 2002 after it was struck by a vehicle and sustained severe structural damage. The bridge was 55 feet long, 15 feet wide and posted with an eight-ton weight restriction. It carried 1,038 vehicles a day prior to its closure. PennDOT removed the bridge due to its deteriorated state in 2008.
Grace Industries, Inc., of Lehigh Valley, Pa. was the general contractor on the $1,374,672 project that was financed with 100 percent state funds. The work was originally scheduled to be completed by August 23.
PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.
Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.
For more information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us/district6 or call 610.205.6700.
Media contact: Charles Metzger, PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator,
610.205.6801.
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