Railroad Bridge Deck Construction This Summer
Montgomery County’s contractor placed deck beams on the westbound side of the new bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad (see below) near Belvoir Road in late spring. Utility contractors completed the installation of the new PECO gas and AQUA water mains crossing the bridge in early July, allowing workers to begin preparation for pouring the concrete deck in August.
In early 2026, the County’s contractor will shift two lanes of Ridge Pike traffic – one lane in each direction — onto the new bridge section and begin demolition of the original eastbound span.
The railroad bridge is the main focus under 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.
Utility work continues along the Ridge Pike corridor, including transfers of aerial communications and removal of the old utility poles. 
Other utility work this summer includes installation of a replacement duct bank for underground PECO facilities south of the Alan Wood Road intersection. Designs for a replacement duct bank for underground PECO facilities west of the Alan Wood intersection are underway, with construction expected to begin later this year.
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 was completed, and Montgomery County’s contractor is currently preparing the area for opening to traffic. A traffic switch to allow for the rehabilitation work on the westbound lanes is scheduled for late July. A final wearing course will be added to all lanes after reconstruction is completed in summer 2027.
A new stormwater drainage system and basin were installed adjacent to the new Norfolk Southern bridge. This system will become active once traffic is moved to the new westbound lanes. The new basin will be modified near the end of the project to accommodate future drainage improvements and maintenance.
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, following the opening of the westbound lanes over Norfolk Southern next year.
AQUA Pennsylvania continues to relocate its facilities in advance of drainage improvements and has recently completed installation of a new water main in the westbound lanes of Ridge Pike. The new line over Norfolk Southern is in the Chlorination process and will soon be tied into the existing line.
Construction that began in the spring of 2024 for a new Plymouth Township sewer line remains 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 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
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