Fall 2020 – Deck construction is underway this fall on the northbound side of the new Markley Street bridge over Stony Creek following beam-setting for the structure in late September.
After crews removed the old northbound bridge and its supports in early summer, work got underway to build the new span’s abutment walls, which were completed in late summer.
With deck beams in place, workers will place the concrete deck’s formwork and reinforcing steel and expect to place the deck concrete before the onset of cold weather late in the year and then construct the bridge’s outside parapet wall.
On Markley Street north and south of the bridge, crews from various utility companies are placing or relocating subsurface and aerial lines as the contractor installs the project’s new stormwater drainage system. Utility work also is ongoing at Markley Street intersections with Main, Marshal and Elm streets. PECO hopes to complete all underground and aerial relocations by the end of January. Sanitary sewers, communications’ lines, and installation of the stormwater drainage system will continue through the winter.
Removal of the existing concrete pavement is underway and being followed by grading and placement of stone subbase in areas where utiility and drainage work is completed. A “permeable asphalt” layer of base pavement will then be placed and new concrete roadway paving placed on top of this asphalt base possibly starting as early as this fall south of the bridge, weather permitting.
Work on improvements at the intersection of Markley and Elm streets, including repairs to the stone arch bridge under the intersection, is expected to get underway next spring.
Work on this project is being done in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and state Department of Health guidance as well as a project-specific COVID-19 safety plan, which will include protocols for social distancing, use of face coverings, personal and job-site cleaning protocols, management of entries to the jobsite, special signage and relevant training.
Markley Street is closed to northbound traffic between Main Street and Elm Street during construction. Northbound U.S. 202 motorists heading to Markley Street are being detoured north on DeKalb Street (U.S. 202 North) in Bridgeport Borough to Johnson Highway in Norristown. Northbound motorists using the Dannehower Bridge will be required to turn east or west on Main Street in Norristown for the duration of construction.
After Stage 1A construction is completed in 2021, the contractor will rebuild the southbound side of Markley Street, including the southbound side of the bridge over Stony Creek, Stage 1B. Work in 2021 also will include the widening of Main Street between Water Street and Barbadoes Street, starting on the north side, then moving to the south side, and finishing with the middle section.
Alan Myers, LP, of Worcester, Montgomery County is the general contractor on the $23,925,515 project which is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds. Construction on the entire project is expected to be completed in 2023.