Knowlton Road Bridge Closure Begins Sept. 30

The Knowlton Road bridge in Middletown Township will be closed and detoured on Sept. 30 as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation begins construction to rehabilitate the bridge.

The bridge is expected to reopen in December, according to PennDOT.

The $183,000 project will rehabilitate the structurally deficient stone arch bridge carrying Knowlton Road over Chester Creek, according to PennDOT.

The detour will use Route 452 (Pennell Road), Glen Riddle Road and Route 352 (South New Middletown Road). 

Crews will work the next two months to restore the structurally deficient bridge by rebuilding its deteriorated bridge walls; reinforcing the deck; reinforcing the foundation underneath the support abutments; and installing a new guide rail.

When construction is completed, the stone arch bridge will once again carry northbound and southbound traffic, according to PennDOT, and the refurbished bridge will retain its historic appearance and listing in the National Register of Historic Places. And it no longer will be classified as structurally deficient.

J.D. Eckman, Inc. of Atglen, Chester County is the general contractor on the project, which is financed with 100 percent state funds, according to PennDOT.