After Delays, Randall Avenue Bridge Work Set To Begin

Good news arrived for Bristol Township officials this week. Township Manager Randee Mazur announced that long-awaited repairs to the closed Randall Avenue Bridge are scheduled to begin next Monday.

Mazur shared the update during Thursday evening’s Bristol Township Council meeting.

The veteran township administrator expressed relief after months of delays previously attributed to Amtrak’s slow approval process.

“On a positive note here, we have an update on Randall Avenue Bridge. The work will begin on Monday. This Monday, I repeat, this Monday the work will begin. We’re hopeful that, you know, everything goes smoothly,” Mazur told council members.

The bridge, which was closed in the winter of 2023 after concrete began falling onto the Amtrak tracks below, has been a source of growing frustration for the township.

While a contractor completed the initial phase of repair work last fall, the next phase involving abutment repairs faced significant delays as the township worked to secure permission from Amtrak to access their right-of-way.

The council awarded a $2.75 million contract to Loftus Construction for the next phase, which includes installing fiberglass reinforced concrete jackets on abutment faces, new wing walls, cheek walls, and replacing existing bearings, officials said.

Last month, Mazur stated the township had submitted the necessary documentation to Amtrak in January and had been collaborating with local lawmakers to expedite the approval process.

Council President Craig Bowen had previously voiced his frustration with the slow pace of approvals.

The bridge project initially aimed for a reopening by the end of 2024 following the completion of concrete repairs, decking installation, and the first phase of work. But that date came and went, with township officials hoping at a not too distant future date.

Township officials hope the repairs will allow the bridge to reopen as they continue to explore funding options for a future bridge replacement.

The current span, which dates back to 1919, is expected to require either a complete replacement or extensive overhaul in the years to come.

The bridge goes over the Amtrak-owned tracks, which are used by freight service, the busy Northeast Corridor, and SEPTA’s Trenton Regional Rail line.

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