Railroad Bridge Construction Progressing Through Spring
J.D. Eckman has completed the abutments for the new bridge carrying westbound Ridge Pike over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks (see below) over the winter, allowing for deck placement and a traffic shift this spring. The railroad bridge is the main focus of the County’s $40 million Section B project to improve travel, safety, and access on Ridge Pike between Belvoir Road and Chemical Road in Plymouth Township.
Bridge beam placement is scheduled to take place at the end of April, followed by construction of the new bridge deck and parapets. When the new westbound structure is complete, the contractor will shift Ridge Pike traffic onto the new bridge section and begin demolition of the original eastbound span.
Utility work continues along the Ridge Pike corridor, including transfers of aerial communications and removal of the old utility poles (see right). Other utility work this spring includes the design of a replacement duct bank for underground PECO facilities to the west and south of the Alan Wood Road intersection.
Montgomery County, PennDOT, and Plymouth Township are coordinating with a Royal Farms construction team that plans to build a new gas station at the northeast corner of Alan Wood Road and Ridge Pike. Though not part of the Ridge Pike project, this additional project requires the construction team’s assistance to ensure the least conflict with the Ridge Pike project and the best experience possible for the roadway users.
The reconstruction of Ridge Pike’s eastbound lanes over I-476 and Plymouth Creek will be completed this spring. Montgomery County and its designer have developed an interim traffic control plan to allow the contractor to continue working by shifting traffic to allow for the rehabilitation work of the westbound lanes to begin while the project waits for future utility relocations in order to complete at the Alan Wood Road intersection. A final wearing course will be added to all lanes after reconstruction is completed in summer 2027.
A new stormwater drainage system was installed and temporarily tied into the old drainage system on Ridge Pike eastbound from Alan Wood Road to Plymouth Creek. Drainage on the westbound side between Alan Wood Road and the Plymouth Creek Bridge will begin after the interim traffic switch is put in place. All other drainage improvements are on hold for underground utility relocations.
PECO Gas has completed the relocation of several gas lines along Ridge Pike. Further gas line relocations are scheduled to begin west of the bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad through to the intersection of Ridge Pike and Carland Road this spring.
AQUA Pennsylvania continues to relocate its facilities in advance of drainage improvements and is currently installing a new water main in the westbound lanes of Ridge Pike.
Construction that began last spring for a new Plymouth Township sewer line is temporarily on hold at the Ridge Pike and Alan Wood Road intersection pending the relocation of other underground utilities. Sewer line installation is expected to resume in late summer 2025.
Section B of the four-stage Ridge Pike Improvement Project will completely reconstruct Ridge Pike from Belvoir Road to Chemical Road, improve stormwater drainage, relocate utilities, create a center turn lane and add turn lanes at certain intersections, upgrade traffic signals, construct sidewalks, and improve access to and from Interstate 476. Improvements at the I-476 overpass will include a left turn lane from westbound Ridge Pike to northbound I-476 and a left turn lane from the I-476 southbound exit to Ridge Pike eastbound. These improvements, along with a double left turn lane from westbound Ridge Pike to Alan Wood Road southbound, will eliminate the need for the jug-handle at Alan Wood Road.
Motorists will encounter occasional lane restrictions on weekdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and at night from 7:00 PM to 6:00 AM on Ridge Pike during construction. Visit www.ridgepikeproject.com regularly for notifications on when nighttime and weekend work will occur or call 445-266-2826 with any project-related questions or concerns.
The County thanks the traveling public and the businesses along this corridor for their continued patience and understanding during this construction project.
J.D. Eckman, of Atglen, PA, is the Section B general contractor. Sections A and C are currently under design. Montgomery County has completed Section D of the Ridge Pike Improvement Project and celebrated this achievement at a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 20, 2024. For additional information on Sections A, C, or D, visit www.ridgepikeproject.com.