HARRISBURG, Pa.– The bridge that carries Speedwell Forge Road (State Route 1037) over Hammer Creek in Elizabeth Township, Lancaster County, will be closed to all traffic beginning Tuesday, September 6. The closure is necessary for a construction project to replace the bridge.
A little more than 450 vehicles cross this bridge on a daily basis. During the bridge closure, drivers will be directed to follow a detour utilizing Brubaker Valley Road (SR 4008), Route 322, Route 501 and Speedwell Forge Road (SR 1037).
The work will be performed by Walsh Construction II. Construction is expected to be completed with the new bridge opened to traffic by late November.
Built in 1937, the current bridge has deteriorated over time and is currently classified as structurally deficient. Replacing the bridge will allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to remove this bridge from its list of structurally deficient bridges in Lancaster County.
The Rapid Bridge Replacement Project is a public-private partnership (P3) between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners (PWKP) to replace 558 structurally deficient bridges statewide. Under the agreement, PWKP will finance, design, replace and maintain the bridges for 25 years. The P3 approach will allow PennDOT to replace the bridges more quickly while achieving significant savings and minimizing impact on motorists.
To see the bridges included in the statewide initiative and to learn more about the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, visit www.PARapidBridges.com. The Speedwell Forge Road bridge is designated on the website as JV-268. JV stands for joint venture.
SOURCE: Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners
