RIDLEY PARK, PA — Next week, Delaware County residents can expect some disruptions as the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) commences tree clearing operations on two state highways. The work is part of a $9.9 million project to replace the Sellers Avenue bridge superstructure in Ridley Park Borough.
From Monday, March 4, through Friday, March 8, periodic lane closures will occur between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on Sellers Avenue between East Hinckley Avenue and East Hinckley Avenue, and on Ridley Avenue between Swarthmore Avenue and Ward Avenue. Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through these areas due to potential backups and delays. All activities are weather dependent.
The weekday lane closures on Sellers Avenue will continue through May to facilitate utility construction.
Under this project, PennDOT’s contractor, Road-Con, Inc., will remove the existing Sellers Avenue bridge superstructure and replace it with a 75-foot-long concrete box beam bridge. The new structure will feature two 12-foot travel lanes and sidewalks on both sides.
In a bid to increase stability, new concrete material will be placed behind the existing stone masonry abutments. The roadway profile is also set to be raised between three and four feet. The catenary system, currently attached to the bridge and supplying electricity to the railway system, will be rerouted along with railroad signals.
Approach roadways to the bridge, including East Ridley Avenue, Sellers Avenue, and Hinkley Avenue, will undergo improvements. These include milling and resurfacing, stormwater management, and ADA curb installation.
Modern traffic signals and emergency vehicle preemption (EVP) equipment will be added at the intersection of Sellers Avenue and Swarthmore Avenue. The EVP equipment, which ensures emergency vehicles receive a green light while other motorists are halted at a red signal, will also be installed at the East Ridley Avenue and Swarthmore Avenue intersection.
The demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the 51-foot-wide, single-span, steel girder bridge is slated to begin this spring. At that point, the temporary pedestrian bridge will be relocated northeast of the current structure.
Built in 1904 and reconstructed in 1952, the Sellers Avenue bridge was closed in July 2022 due to structural deterioration discovered during an inspection. Prior to its closure, the bridge saw daily use by approximately 3,404 vehicles.
Road-Con, Inc., a West Chester-based firm, is the general contractor on this bridge improvement project, which is financed entirely with federal funds.
Drivers can check current road conditions by visiting the MyChesCo Traffic Center. Stay updated on the latest news and information from MyChesCo with our free newsletter. Follow MyChesCo on Twitter at twitter.com/MyChesCo and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/MyChesCo.
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