PennDOT to close Route 52 bridge in Birmingham

Posted by Press Release on August 2, 2019

PennDOT will be closing the Route 52 (Lenape Road) bridge over the Brandywine Creek Floodplain in Birmingham Township, beginning Aug. 19 through May, 2020.

“This bridge rehabilitation will provide needed safety improvements to motorists while maintaining its historical integrity and aesthetics,” said Gov. Tom Wolf in a press release.

PennDOT will repair, strengthen and restore the deteriorating seven-span, stone masonry arch bridge by removing the bituminous pavement and earth fill; removing and salvaging the parapet stones, capstones and pipe railing; rebuilding deteriorated portions of the spandrel and wing walls; constructing a full-width concrete slab with integral concrete barriers faced with stone from the bridge; reinstalling masonry capstones with repainted pipe railing; repointing the masonry as required; salvaging and resetting the bridge plaque; and installing brown painted guide rail.

In addition, the contractor will rebuild the stone walls at the north end of the bridge at the Route 52 and Creek Road intersection and move the walls a bit further away from the intersection to provide additional room for vehicular turning moves.

Built in 1912, this stone masonry bridge is 342 feet long and 24 feet wide stone.

On Monday, Aug. 19, Route 52 will close between Pocopson Road and Creek Road. During the closure, Route 52 motorists will be detoured over Pocopson Road, Route 926 and Birmingham Road.

Before the closure and detour is implemented, traffic signal work, including timing modifications, will take place at the intersections listed below, with limited impact to motorists:

Temporary advanced left turn light to be installed on eastbound Route 926 at Birmingham Road;

Temporary advanced left turn light to be installed on southbound Route 52 at Birmingham Road; and

Permanent flashing yellow left turn arrow to be installed on eastbound Route 926 for left turns onto northbound Pocopson Road.

As construction progresses, Creek Road will also close for approximately seven months later this year, between Route 926 and Route 52 During the closure, Creek Road motorists will be detoured over Route 926 Birmingham Road and Route 52.

Local access will be maintained up to the work zone for both closures. Drivers are advised to allow extra time when traveling near the work areas because backups and delays will occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent and subject to change.

Loftus Construction Inc. is the general contractor on the $3,439,000 project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. The entire project is expected to finish in summer 2020.