Randall Avenue Bridge Repair Delayed Due To Amtrak Issues

July 2, 2024

File photo.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The much-anticipated repairs to the deteriorating Randall Avenue bridge in Bristol Township have been delayed.

Initially scheduled to begin on Friday, June 28, the start date has been pushed back to Friday, July 12, due to issues with Amtrak, according to Bristol Township leaders.

“Amtrak experienced heat related ET (electric traction) infrastructure issues along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) during the week of June 17^th-June 21^st. Amtrak ET manpower resources have been shifted towards maintenance in anticipation of the heavy travel week before, during, and after the Fourth of July holiday week/weekend,” the township posted on its website.

Last month, Bristol Township Manager Randee Mazur announced that Haines and Kibblehouse (H&K), a construction firm based in Skippack, Montgomery County, had been contracted for the first stage of repairs at a cost of $1.08 million.

The initial phase will address critical issues, including the removal of unstable concrete and the installation of protective shielding.

The Randall Avenue bridge, which spans key rail lines used by SEPTA, freight carriers, and Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor, has been closed since early 2023 due to safety concerns.

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 detailed that the first phase 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. The project will also include the disposal of the damaged and removed concrete.

Mazur said the first portion of the repairs is expected to be completed later this summer.

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.

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, including after a town hall meeting in January.

Securing a contractor for the project has been challenging due to the bridge’s location over active rail lines and the complexity of the necessary safety measures.