Bridge project to begin Tuesday in Exeter Twp.

Work is scheduled to begin today on a bridge along Gibraltar Road at Shelbourne Road in Exeter Township, PennDOT announced Monday.

The project includes work to the Gibraltar Road bridge over Antietam Creek and to improve the intersection of Gibraltar and Shelbourne roads.

PennDOT officials said the work will be completed in phases. During the first phase the bridge will be restricted to one lane, allowing traffic coming from Route 422 to cross the bridge. Traffic in the other direction will be detoured. Later phases include a full closure of the bridge and intersection. Updates on changing traffic patterns will be sent out when available. The $2.7 million project is scheduled for completion in July 2024.

The goal of the project is to improve the intersection next to the bridge to reduce or eliminate recurring peak-hour congestion. Improvements

include addition of an eastbound to northbound leftturn lane and a new traffic signal.

At present the bridge consists of two lanes and leads to an intersection with a four-way stop sign and one lane in each direction. Traffic often backs up on Gibraltar and Shelbourne roads during the morning and evening rush hours, and the bridge is used by bus drivers and other motorists as a route to the Exeter School District buildings along nearby Dunham Drive.

Township and state officials have said the work should improve traffic flow in the busy area.

Last summer there were traffic restrictions on the bridge while crews replaced a sanitary sewer main, which is part of the larger project.

H&K Group Inc. of Skippack is the primary contractor on the project.