Vehicles crossed the Randall Avenue Bridge for the first time in nearly three years Wednesday morning.
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The reopening of the bridge in Bristol Township was the end of a long-running closure that began when the century-old structure started crumbling onto railroad tracks below.
Bristol Township Public Works Department crews removed concrete barriers and “road closed” signs just before 8 a.m.
Along with the reopening, the traffic signal at Radcliffe Street and Randall Avenue was returned to its standard cycle. It had been modified during the closure to better manage traffic flow.
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The 107-year-old bridge had been closed to traffic since Feb. 23, 2023 after debris fell onto the busy Amtrak Northeast Corridor tracks located underneath the span.
@levittownnow If you’ve been detouring around the Randall Avenue Bridge since 2023, your commute just got a little easier. Bristol Township Public Works Department crews removed the barriers Wednesday morning. #BucksCounty #LevittownPA #BristolTwp #LevittownNow ♬ original sound – LevittownNow.com
“This project has been a long time coming, and we sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation shown by our residents,” Township Council President Craig Bowen said. “Reopening the Randall Avenue Bridge is an important milestone for our community.”
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The repair and stabilization project cost $2.75 million and was conducted in several phases.
Due to the bridge going overhead of active Amtrak, SEPTA, and freight lines, repairs required temporary suspensions of rail service to allow crews to safely inspect and work on the underside of the structure. The extra precautions slowed repair and stabilization work.
Officials have stated the recent work as a temporary measure.
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The bridge previously had a 3.5-ton weight restriction that was frequently ignored, and the township reopened the span with that same limit to avoid further delays.
Officials said last month they may seek a re-rating for a higher weight capacity in the future from PennDOT.
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A total overhaul or replacement of the bridge is estimated to cost approximately $25 million. The township is currently seeking funding for that larger project.
The $2.75 million repair project was supported by a $2 million Multimodal Transportation Fund Grant.
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Township officials credited State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, a Democrat, and State Rep. Tina Davis, a Democrat, for securing the grant, and U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican, for coordinating with Amtrak.
