Bristol Twp. Studies Haines Road Bridge Over Amtrak Line

Bigger plans may be in the works for the replacement of the existing Randall Avenue bridge in Bristol Township. 

Council on Thursday night discussed studying how federal transportation funding could aid in constructing a new bridge extending Haines Road over the Amtrak Northeast Corridor line and connecting it with Radcliffe Street. 

Township Manager Randee Mazur outlined the concept, saying the township is working with a structural engineering firm to determine whether the alternative is feasible.

The township has been seeking replacement of the Randall Avenue bridge and has gotten the project onto the federal Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. 

However, township administration are now evaluating whether the money could instead be used for the Haines Road crossing.

“The proposal is what the township is more in favor for and hoping that it works,” Mazur said, describing the concept as “a brand new bridge that would be an extension of Haines Road over Amtrak and meet up at Radcliffe Street.”

The federal funding would cover one bridge project, she said.

If the Haines Road alternative proves feasible and is ultimately constructed, the existing Randall Avenue bridge would be demolished rather than replaced.

The proposed bridge would also be substantially different from the existing crossing.

The vision is a commercial-capable bridge without a truck weight restriction, with a four-lane cross-section capable of accommodating heavier traffic.

“The whole point of this is we’d want to build a commercial-like bridge so that the trucks could go over,” Mazur said.

The change could also alter how commercial traffic moves through the Edgely section of Bristol Township. Officials believe the new alignment would pull traffic away from residential streets and shift it closer to the Tullytown border.

“We think, again, it’s a better layout to get it away from the residential streets in Edgely,” Mazur said.

She emphasized that the township remains in the study and engineering stage and that determining whether the proposed Haines Road crossing is feasible will be a lengthy process.