PennDOT Unveils Proposal For Final Phase Of Route 1 Redo

PennDOT has unveiled its preliminary plans for the final section of the Route 1 overhaul project.

The three-phase project started with improving and widening a 1.3-mile-long section Route 1 in Bensalem Township in 2018 and the second phase, which kicked off earlier this spring, will widen Route 1 and replace the bridges and interchange between the Neshaminy Interchange in Bensalem Township and just past the bridges over the rail line next to West Lincoln Highway in Middletown Township.

PennDOT estimates the third and final phase of the project will cost about $80 million and begin construction in October 2026.

The first phase of the work cost about $100 million and the second phase will be about $110.9 million. The first two phases were funded 80 percent by the federal government and 20 percent by Harrisburg.

PennDOT released a video with narration of the proposed third phase of work. The project has been discussed for close to a decade.

PennDOT officials said the third phase, which will stretch from Route 1 from the area near Neshaminy High School to just past the Woods Services campus’ overpass near the Middletown Township, Langhorne Borough, and Langhorne Manor Borough borders.

The extensive overhaul is needed for safety reasons, to bring the busy highway up to modern design standards, and meet the needs to commuters. The highway was built decades ago and has seen improvements, but the design is outdated, PennDOT officials said.

Among the safety issues are the connections from the access roads to the highway, no shoulder on the highway for disabled vehicles to pull onto, and the concrete island separating the highway from the access roads. Another issue is the bridges passing over are lower than the current standard for a modern limited-access highway, PennDOT officials said.

Parts of the third phase will continue to have an access road, but access to the highway will be held to interchanges and concrete barriers will replace the large islands, according to the preliminary plans.

A full interchange will be built connect to Highland Avenue. Two roundabouts would be built along Old Lincoln Highway and one along Highland Avenue to handle traffic coming off the highway.

Some of the roads that connect to the current access roads will be blocked and completed with cul-de-sacs instead of highway access.

Another major change will be the addition of a partial cloverleaf interchange on and off of Route 1 that will connect with Pine Street (Route 413). The move would mark the end of Route 1 access road connections from Langhorne Manor Borough and create a roundabout to replace the intersection with the flashing lights where Pine Street, South Bellevue and West Highland Avenue all meet. The intersection is a frequent spot for confusion among drivers and has led to crashes.

PennDOT officials said they looked at other interchange options for Route 1 at Pine Street, but the other ideas took up too much land.

With the project, PennDOT officials akowldegeded that partial and full property acquisition would be needed in some spots. They cautioned that changes can be made to the designs.

The preliminary engineering is in the early stages and final design and right-of-way clearance for the third phase could begin in spring 2022 and is expected to take up to a few years, PennDOT officials said.

PennDOT is seeking feedback from residents on their plans. Comments can be made online through July 2.

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