New Bridge Over Neshaminy Creek To Open Months Ahead Of Schedule

A $12.1 million bridge connecting Lower Southampton and Middletown townships over the Neshaminy Creek is expected to open Thursday morning, which is months ahead of schedule.

The Brownsville Road bridge, which is named in honor of U.S. Army Private First Class George Raymond Huntzinger, has been under construction since last spring when crews began replacing the aging span with a new concrete box beam design. It was originally slated to open in fall or winter.

The sped up timeline was a direct result of a shift in how the project was managed, PennDOT spokesperson Brad Rudolph said.

“The bridge was able to open ahead of schedule due in part to a change in the construction staging,” Rudolph said. “We implemented a full closure of the bridge in lieu of constructing the bridge in widths, which allowed the contractor to complete the work ahead of schedule. Replacing the bridge in widths under lane closures would have taken longer to finish.”

The newly-built bridge is approximately 24 feet longer and nearly 10 feet wider than its predecessor, according to PennDOT.

As part of the build, PennDOT included several safety and design modifications into the project.

The vertical alignment of the span was raised over the Neshaminy Creek, a design feature intended to provide a larger opening for the waterway while slightly improving sight distances for drivers approaching the bridge.

As a way to improve the natural flow of the creek, the new design utilizes one less pier than the older bridge.

Additional upgrades to the crossing include wider shoulders to improve sight distance at nearby intersections, enhanced stormwater management systems, a resurfaced approach roadway, and the placement of partially grouted riprap along the piers and abutments to protect the structure against scour and erosion.

Prior to the closure, the last bridge carried an average of 6,991 drivers daily, PennDOT said.

The completion of the project comes after the 2015 opening of the nearby West Maple Avenue bridge over the Neshaminy Creek.