PennDOT To Start St. David's Bridge Construction in July, Detour Plans Set

NEWTOWN SQUARE–The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced on Monday that construction will start Monday, July 16, on the $454,000 project to rehabilitate the structurally deficient stone arch bridge carrying St. David’s Road over Darby Creek in Newtown Township. The bridge is scheduled to reopen in November 2013.

In February of this year, from the existing architectural details and dimensions of the bridge.

In the next 17 months, PennDOT will restore the structurally deficient bridge by rebuilding its deteriorated bridge walls; reinforcing the deck; reinforcing the foundation underneath the support abutments; performing masonry repairs and installing new guide rail.

According to PennDOT, "When construction is completed, the 202-year-old stone arch bridge will once again carry northbound and southbound traffic and no longer be classified as structurally deficient."

During the time of construction, the St. David’s Road bridge will be closed and detoured during construction. The posted detour will use Darby Paoli Road, Goshen Road and Rt. 252/Newtown Street.

According to PennDOT, the St. David’s Road bridge was originally built in 1810.  It is 26 feet long and 24 feet wide.  The bridge carries an average of 6,500 vehicles a day.

J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, Chester County is the general contractor on the project. St. David's Road, which is a state road, will be financed entirely through state funds, meaning no costs will be incurred for the rehabilitation project to Newtown.

The St. David’s Road bridge is one of three structurally deficient bridges in Delaware County that PennDOT is repairing under a $1,263,976 project.  The other two are the Knowlton Road bridge over Chester Creek in Middletown Township and the Route 13 (Chester Pike) bridge over Muckinapattus Creek in Glenolden Borough.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.

For more PennDOT information, visit www.dot.state.pa.us. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www.twitter.com/511PAPhilly.

This press release was provided by PennDOT.