Bridge rehabilitation ongoing on historic structure in Norristown
PennDOT’s contractor continues the rehabilitation of the Elm Street Stone Arch Bridge at the intersection of Markley Street and Elm Street this fall under a project that will restore the historic structure and complete the long-term, almost $53 million investment to improve the Markley Street (U.S.202 South) corridor in Norristown.
Repair crews continue to work on the underside of the bridge, dismantling the arch stones to access and repair the bridge’s structural components. Once the structural repairs are completed, the stones will be placed in their original locations.
Utility companies and sub-contractors expect to complete the relocation of underground cables, conduits, ducts, and pipes at the intersection this fall.
Following the bridge rehabilitation, PennDOT’s contractor will reconstruct and widen Markley Street and adjust the pavement on Elm Street at the intersection.
Additional improvements under this contract include installing new, adaptive traffic signals, curbs, sidewalks, ADA curb ramps, signage, and guide rails during the last phase of the project.
During construction, the intersection remains closed and detoured to the traveling public. Traffic is detoured along routes designed to lessen the impact of traffic approaching the work area.
The estimated $7.8 million Elm Street Bridge project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.
Work on the corridor began in 2013 with widening and reconstruction between Elm Street and Johnson Highway (Section 520), ending in fall 2015. In 2019, the second of four contracts (Section 510) began, improving the corridor and intersecting streets between Main and Elm streets. The third section of the corridor, Section 530, extended Barbadoes Street from Layfayette to Washington streets to improve traffic flow by providing an alternate route through the busy intersection of Markley and Main Streets, finishing in 2022.