Freemansburg Ave. Might Reopen in 1-2 Days

The Freemansburg Avenue bridge, which spans the Nancy Run, could be reopened in one or two days, PennDOT officials said Tuesday afternoon.

A contractor hired to make emergency repairs has made “significant progress” toward shoring the bridge’s western abutment, which had been partially washed away by creek water, agency officials said through a news release.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation ordered that the bridge be closed to all vehicular traffic at 7 p.m. Friday as a result of a bridge inspection that was completed earlier in the week.

Freemansburg Avenue from Pembroke Road to Willow Park Road has been closed since then. That portion of Freemansburg Avenue typically carries more than 10,700 vehicles a day.

On Tuesday, contractor J.D. Eckman Inc. of Atglen, Chester County, completed excavation work and poured concrete under the abutment, PennDOT said.

An abutment is part of a bridge that supports the superstructure—beams and deck. Abutments are located at both ends of a bridge.

Once the concrete strengthens, the remaining work will include removing sandbag dikes for the temporary stream diversion, water pumps, heavy equipment and miscellaneous materials from the area, the state agency said.

While PennDOT did not promise a specific time frame for bridge reopening, one or two days is possible. Until that time, motorists are still urged to seek alternate routes.

Freemansburg Avenue is a major east-west thoroughfare that connects Pembroke Road in the city of Bethlehem to Freemansburg borough, Bethlehem Township, Palmer Township and Wilson borough.

“I commend J.D. Eckman on their rapid response to our request to fix this vital link in the regional transportation network,” said Alfred A. Picca Jr., PennDOT’s assistant district executive for construction. “They stepped up to the challenge, and the thousands of motorists in this area will soon again be able to travel through here.”

Built in 1938, the Nancy Run bridge is a concrete arch bridge that is 33 feet wide and 23 feet long.