Delaware County Holds Ribbon Cutting to Mark Reopening of Manchester Avenue Bridge
Released: July 15, 2024
Delaware County Holds Ribbon Cutting to Mark Reopening of Manchester Avenue Bridge
Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor joined the County’s Director of Public Works, Danielle Floyd, PennDOT Assistant Construction Engineer Robert Magee, Middletown Township Manager John McMullan, Nether Providence Township Manager Dave Grady, and Upper Providence Township Council Member Elgin Akarsoy to hold a ribbon cutting to officially reopen the Manchester Avenue Bridge (County Bridge #94) on July 15.
The reconstruction of the Manchester Avenue Bridge, an important thoroughfare providing connections between several municipalities within Delaware County, began in August 2023. Led by a highly skilled team from Loftus Construction, Inc., and ongoing support from PennDOT and Middletown, Nether Providence, and Upper Providence townships, the project finished 7 months ahead of schedule.
The original bridge was a reinforced concrete closed spandrel arch underfill constructed in 1925 that ran across Ridley Creek.
The scope of work for the bridge included important stormwater management and safety features, including:
- The bridge was replaced with 77’-7” concrete PA Bulb-tree beam
- The hydraulic opening was increased which will decrease the water surface elevation of the 100-year flood
- Upgrades to open channel drainage with the installation of a rock lined swale
- Upgrades to safety features, including the installation of a guide rail to current standards.
- Installation of a stop sign at Knowlton Road and South Ridley Creek Road
“Safe and reliable infrastructure is critical,” said Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor. “Delaware County Council remains committed to investing in our bridge infrastructure, ensuring that our bridges remain structurally sound and safe for the public.”
The $2.25M construction project was funded using state and County funds and 80% of the construction costs will be reimbursed by PennDOT, which is a significant win for the County’s budget and taxpayer dollars.
“The opening of County Bridge 94 represents another example of the progress the County is making to prioritize the replacement of structurally deficient bridges,” said Danielle Floyd, Delaware County’s Director of Public Works. “The success of this project is also due in large part to the cooperation and partnership between the County and the local municipalities.”
Pennsylvania has the ninth-largest bridge inventory in the nation. Despite a 4.5% decrease in the number of poor-condition bridges, Pennsylvania contains the second-highest number of poor condition bridges among the 50 states. While the state has significantly reduced the number of poor condition bridges through traditional and non-traditional means such as Public-Private Partnerships, inadequate funding over the years has failed to address the ever-increasing repair deficit.
Of the 43 bridges owned by the County, four bridges remain in poor condition and the working is working on a comprehensive plan for repairs. The County currently has two additional bridges under construction- one of which is scheduled to open by the end of the year and the second in early 2025, representing an investment of over $11M in bridge reconstruction.
Through the County’s bridge program, we continue to demonstrate good use of federal and state dollars to improve the safety of the County’s transportation network. The County remains committed to working with DVRPC, PennDOT, and state and federal delegations to advocate for increased funding to invest in our roads, bridges, and highways on behalf of County residents and taxpayers.