Officials have announced that repair work on the deteriorating Randall Avenue bridge in Bristol Township will begin on Friday, June 28.
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The bridge, which spans over key rail lines used by SEPTA, freight carriers, and Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor, has been closed since early 2023 due to safety concerns.
Bristol Township Manager Randee Mazur confirmed that Haines and Kibblehouse (H&K), a construction firm based in Skippack, Montgomery County, has been contracted for the first stage of repairs at a cost of $1.08 million.
The first phase of the project will address critical issues, including the removal of unstable concrete and the installation of protective shielding.
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The initial work involves removing portions of the concrete encasement at critical points on the bridge and installing timber shielding to prevent further debris from falling onto the tracks below, Mazur explained.
The project will also include the disposal of the damaged and removed concrete.
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Originally, the township received $975,000 from PennDOT for abutment repairs. However, after concrete debris began falling onto the rail lines below, PennDOT authorized the redirection of these funds to address the more immediate problems. An additional $2 million in state grant money has since been allocated to complete abutment work.
Mazur said that the first portion of the repairs is expected to be completed by August, if there are not any unforeseen issues.
Following the first phase, the township will finalize specifications for the remaining abutment repairs and begin soliciting bids for the next stages, which are anticipated to take three to four months.
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The township continues to pursue grants to fund the design and construction of a new bridge to replace the current structure, which stretches 169 feet in the Edgely section of the township.
Township officials have faced significant pressure from local residents, especially after a townhall meeting in January where the urgency of the bridge repairs was a major topic of discussion.
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Securing a contractor for the project was challenging due to the bridge’s location over active rail lines and the complexity of the necessary safety measures.
The start of the repairs comes after months of difficulties in finding a contractor willing to tackle the job.
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Although the bridge is owned by the township, state and federal officials have been involved due to the location over the Northeast Corridor.
Editor’s Note: Publisher Tom Sofield contributed to this article.
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