Work on replacing the Route 926 Bridge will begin next month, but plans to install a traffic signal in advance of it will begin sooner.
The $8.6 million project, expected to last until Sept. 1, will officially begin in February, according to the Transportation Management Association of Chester County.
The 26-foot-wide state-owned bridge in Birmingham and Pocopson townships was declared structurally deficient, and a notice to proceed with the replacement was given on Dec. 27, 2016.
This week PennDOT representatives will be “spotting traffic signals,” according to PennDOT Community Relations Coordinator Charles Metzger, and then spending the next month installing a traffic signal at the corner of Lenape Road (Route 52) and Pocopson Road, by the Lenape Forge building. That traffic signal, which will be permanent, will feature a flashing yellow arrow signal for left turns from Route 52 to Pocopson Road and, according to Metzger, represents “the first to operate in the Philadelphia region.
“The flashing yellow arrow signal is new to Pennsylvania, but they have become commonplace in many states across the country over the last 10 years,” Metzger wrote in a press release issued Thursday. “Based on studies and transportation agency testimonials, flashing yellow arrow signals improve left-turning safety by helping motorists recognize that they should yield while making left turns when there is oncoming traffic and pedestrians.”
Those looking for information on the bridge project can check out PA926.com, the part of the county’s traffic management website devoted to the bridge replacement. It is that portion that Pocopson Township supervisors are referring residents and businesses to for more information.
“TMACC is going to be the single source (of information) for us,” Pocopson Vice Chairman Elaine DiMonte said at Tuesday’s township meeting, adding that the link to the TMACC site — PA926.com — will be featured on the township’s website.
A TMACC representative had suggested to DiMonte that TMACC post signs around the township with its information on them. The supervisors, at their reorganizational meeting, agreed it sounded like a good idea.
“The more transparency and communication we’ve got, the better,” said DiMonte.
The new bridge will address structural and flooding concerns. According to PennDOT, the bridge will be “a new three-span structure at a higher elevation,” and the roadway approaching the bridge will be rebuilt and elevated “to make them less prone to flooding.” The culvert over Radley Run will be replaced as well.
DiMonte attended a Dec. 21 meeting with PennDOT, contractor Clearwater Construction, and others at which she said PennDOT “made it very clear to the contractor they have to be respectful of the residents and the businesses” affected by the closure.
For more information on the 926 bridge project, check out the following links:
TMACC – www.tmacc.org
TMACC’s page on the bridge project (including detours) – www.PA926.com
Traffic advisories – www.511pa.com
PennDOT – www.penndot.gov
About Monica Fragale
Monica Thompson Fragale is a freelance reporter who spent her life dreaming of being in the newspaper business. That dream came true after college when she started working at The Kennett Paper and, years later The Reporter newspaper in Lansdale and other dailies. She turned to non-profit work after her first daughter was born and spent the next 13 years in that field. But while you can take the girl out of journalism, you can’t take journalism out of the girl. Offers to freelance sparked the writing bug again started her fingers happily tapping away on the keyboard. Monica lives with her husband and two children in Kennett Square.
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments