After working since July, crews have completed the first phase of repairs on the Randall Avenue Bridge.
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Bristol Township officials said Thursday that contractor Haines and Kibblehouse (H&K), of Skippack, Montgomery County, wrapped up removal of the concrete encasement from the steel girders and floor beams recently.
The crews also installed timber shielding within the bridge bays above the track areas on Sunday.
In a statement, officials said township still has to repair the abutments, which will be the second phase of the work.
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With phase one wrapped up, township officials are now setting their sights on the second phase of the job.
The next stage will focus on repairing the bridge abutments, replacing worn bearings, and addressing the potholes that have exposed joint steel at the transitions.
“We anticipate issuing the updated plans, specs, and contract documents to our list of interested contractors within the next week or so and hope to receive proposals by the end of October/early November in order to begin Phase II work before the end of the year,” officials said.
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The train tracks below the bridge are very active and utilized by Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, SEPTA, and freight lines.
The bridge’s location over such a busy rail line has complicated the search for contractors willing to tackle the job and led to strict safety measures.
At first, the township had secured $975,000 from PennDOT for abutment repairs, but shifted focus to more urgent issues after concrete debris began falling onto the tracks. The township was able to redirect the funds with PennDOT’s approval.
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To aid in completing the necessary abutment work, an additional $2 million in state grant money was later allocated.
The project’s total cost for the first phase was $1.08 million.
Township officials are preparing for an eventual bridge replacement, which they warned could cost millions of dollars.
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In the interim, temporary fixes are being implemented to ensure safety and reopen the span.
The bridge itself was closed on an emergency basis last February after debris was found on the train tracks.
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