Tilghman Bridge Work Begins; Expect Delays

Motorists can expect weekday (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) delays on Tilghman Street starting the week of March 26 for work on two in .

The contractor began moving equipment into position this week to begin work underneath the Tilghman Street bridges Monday, March 19.

The following week, March 26, there will be lane restrictions on Tilghman Street between Ruppsville and Blue Barn roads, according to PennDOT’s latest update. 

The $4,917,299 project consists of replacing the superstructure (deck and beams) on the Tilghman Street Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad and the complete replacement of the Tilghman Street Bridge over Chapmans Road.

When these improvements to Tilghman Street are complete, the Bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad is expected to last another 50 or more years, and the new Bridge over Chapmans Road is expected to last 100 years, says PennDOT. 

Tilghman Street is expected to be closed and detoured in early April for demolition and construction work on the two bridges, and an update will be provided prior to the closure.

When the bridges are closed, Tilghman Street will be closed to through traffic between the intersections of Blue Barn and Farm Bureau roads. Tilghman Street west traffic will be routed on the posted detour route of US 22 west, Interstate 78 west and PA 100 north. Tilghman Street east traffic will be routed on the posted detour of PA 100 south, I-78 east, US 22 east, PA 309 north and US 22 west 

During the Tilghman Street detour the traffic signals at the Tilghman Street intersections with Mill Road/Windsor Drive, Snowdrift Road, Ruppsville Road and Blue Barn Road will be temporarily re-timed to minimize congestion.

These signals will also be permanently equipped with emergency responder pre-emption systems. The intersection of Tilghman Street and Farm Bureau Road will be temporarily reconfigured as a three-way stop controlled intersection (stop signs) to allow access to-and-from Tilghman Street on the western side of the bridges. The intersection will be restored to the pre-construction configuration at the completion of the project.

Also when the bridges are closed, Chapmans Road traffic will be detoured on Hickory Lane, Farm Bureau Road and Memorial Road.

This section of Tilghman Street has an average daily traffic volume of 13,145 vehicles. The project is expected to be complete in August. All schedules are weather dependent.

Detour maps attached.