Valley Forge Road Bridge construction, closure to begin April 20

SCHUYLKILL TWP. >> PennDOT officials announced recently that construction on the Valley Forge Road Bridge over Pickering Creek is set to begin later this month. The structurally-deficient bridge will be closed and detoured between Moorehall Drive and McAvoy Lane starting April 20. Construction is expected to finish later this year.

According to a press release, the $1.7 million project will rehabilitate the Route 23 bridge by removing the deteriorated steel I-beams and replacing them with concrete beams; building a new deck; and repairing the support abutments. In addition, crews will replace the pier caps on which the beams sit.

During the closure, passenger cars on Route 23 will be detoured over U.S. 422 west to the Oaks Interchange, then onto Egypt Road, Route 29, Bridge Street, and Route 113 (Bridge Street). Trucks will follow U.S. 422 west to the Royersford Interchange, and then onto Main Street and Route 724 (Schuylkill Road). Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.

Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone, the release states.

According to the release, the three-span structure, built in 1967, is 210 feet long and 38 feet wide and carries 19,165 vehicles per day.

The bridge is the third of three structurally deficient bridges in Chester County to be rehabilitated, under a $3.4 million project that is financed with state funds from Act 89, Pennsylvania’s transportation plan.

The first bridge to be repaired was the Fern Hill Road Bridge over U.S. 202 in West Goshen Township.

Construction finished in December 2014. The second bridge that is being rehabilitated is the U.S. 322 (Horse Shoe Pike) bridge over the west branch of the Brandywine Creek in Honey Brook Township. Construction started in March and is expected to finish in late fall.