The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced that construction will begin Monday, March 4 to repair and improve the structurally-deficient Brandywine Creek Bridges over Buck Run and Doe Run in Newlin Township, Chester County.

“We are rebuilding these two structurally-deficient bridges to provide Brandywine Creek Road motorists with safe, sound bridges for decades to come,” PennDOT District Executive Lester C. Toaso said.

Brandywine Creek Road will be closed to through traffic during construction.  Motorists will be detoured over Strasburg Road and Stargazer Road.  Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.  Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area. The road is scheduled to reopen in July.

The one-span, stone masonry arch bridge was built in 1937.  The structure is 68 feet long and 19 feet wide. Crews will improve and strengthen the bridge by removing the existing earth fill above the arch barrel and replace it with reinforced concrete. The plan also includes the installation of guide rail.

The two-span, steel I-beam bridge over Buck Run and Doe Run was built in 1937.  The structure is 72 feet long and 21 feet wide.  The weight restricted bridge, which is posted with a 30-ton weight limit, carries 251 vehicles a day.  Crews will reconstruct and repair the substructure, replace steel stringer with concrete beams, and reinforce concrete bridge deck. They will also repair the support abutments and bridge piers. Once the bridge repairs are completed the bridge will not be weight restricted.

The bridge improvements are part of PennDOT’s $7,488,752 project to rehabilitate eight deteriorated bridges in Chester and Delaware counties.

J.D. Eckman, of Atglen, Chester County is the general contractor on the project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. The entire project is expected to finish in April 2014.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to www.511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.

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