Credit: Belvoir To Chemical.
Construction of the westbound lanes of the new Ridge Pike bridge over Norfolk Southern railroad tracks and substructure rehabilitation of the Plymouth Creek and I-476 bridges will be the focal points of construction work by Montgomery County and PennDOT this winter. The activities are part of the $40 million Section B project to improve travel, safety, and access on Ridge Pike between Belvoir Road and Chemical Road in Plymouth Township.
Significant progress was made this fall on construction of the westbound side of the new Ridge Pike bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad. The western abutment is completed, and crews are preparing the foundation for the eastern abutment (see below). Following completion of the abutments, the contractor will place bridge deck girders later this year.
Work on new approach slabs and deck modifications on the bridges over I-476 and Plymouth Creek (see right) will continue as weather conditions allow. Substructure work including structural steel repairs, bearing replacements, and other modifications will continue to advance over the winter.
The contractors also will continue utility relocations and roadway reconstruction. PECO Electric and several communications utilities have significantly advanced the aerial relocations on the westbound side of Ridge Pike, making way for future water main installations and roadway widening. PECO will continue installing the remaining utility poles, moving to the eastbound side of Ridge Pike to allow extensive Verizon aerial relocations.
PECO Gas has completed the relocation of several gas lines along Ridge Pike. Further gas line relocations are scheduled to begin at the intersection of Ridge Pike and Carland Road this summer. AQUA Pennsylvania continues to relocate its facilities in advance of drainage improvements and will install its new water main in the spring.
The County’s contractor will continue installing new pipes and inlets/manholes for the new stormwater drainage system. Drainage work near the Plymouth Creek bridge will again close the adjacent section of the Cross County Trail in early 2025. Excavation for a large stormwater basin next to the Norfolk Southern bridge is slated to begin this winter.
Construction that began last spring for a new Plymouth Township sewer line is temporarily on hold at the Ridge Pike and Alan Wood Road intersection pending the relocation of other underground utilities. Sewer line installation is expected to resume in the summer.
Section B of the four-stage Ridge Pike Improvement Project will completely reconstruct Ridge Pike from Belvoir Road to Chemical Road, improve stormwater drainage, relocate utilities, create a center turn lane and add turn lanes at certain intersections, upgrade traffic signals, construct sidewalks and improve access to and from Interstate 476. Improvements at the I-476 overpass include a left turn lane from westbound Ridge Pike to northbound I-476 and a left turn lane from the I-476 southbound exit to Ridge Pike eastbound. These improvements, along with a double left turn lane from westbound Ridge Pike to Alan Wood Road southbound, will eliminate the need for the jug-handle at Alan Wood Road.
J.D. Eckman, of Atglen, Pa., is the Section B general contractor. Sections A and C are currently under design.
