June 28, 2021

Work to rehabilitate the Route 1 Bridge over the Brandywine Creek between Pennsbury and Chadds Ford townships is underway. While PennDOT’s website still says the work will continue until further notice, PennDOT’s Brad Rudolph said the lanes might reopen within a couple of weeks but close again in September for more work.

The inside lanes of the bridge were closed following a May 27 inspection. Rudolph said the inspection was a six-month interim inspection because the concrete in the support pedestals was deteriorating. There are temporary supports in place, but other joints need work along the median because leaking water is causing more concrete to deteriorate.

“In order to rebuild the pedestals, the beams require jacking and raising…After the beams are jacked. The contractor will then install rigging on the face of the abutment and rebuild the pedestals. After the pedestal work is complete, they will reseal the joints and reopen the left lane,” he said.

Rudolph added that the concrete should be poured this week. The bridge will then be unpacked in a couple of weeks, and lanes reopened, but then they’ll close again sometime after Labor Day for another few months to replace an expansion dam on the south end of the bridge. That dam allows the bridge to expand and contract as needed.