Southbound Side of Markley Street, Westbound Main Street Under Construction
Reconstruction of the southbound side of Markley Street — including construction of the southbound bridge over Stony Creek — is underway this summer, along with work on Main Street and the expected start of work on the arch bridge at Elm Street and an extension of Barbadoes Street south of Main Street in Norristown.
With southbound traffic now riding on the rebuilt northbound side of Markley Street from Elm to the Airy Street overpass, crews dismantled the southbound Stony Creek bridge in the spring and began construction of the new bridge’s abutments in early summer.
Construction of the new northbound bridge finished earlier this year along with reconstruction of the northbound Markley Street pavement between Main Street and the bridge. Highway lighting, curbs, and sidewalks have been installed on the northbound side of Markley Street from the bridge up to Elm Street.
Early summer also saw the start of reconstruction of southbound Markley Street from the bridge to Elm Street with the removal of the old pavement. Utility relocations and drainage work will continue through the summer months.
Work also is underway to reconstruct the westbound side of Main Street between Barbadoes Street and Markley Street (see right). Widening on the westbound side of Main Street could progress west of Markley Street to Water Street by late summer.
With preliminary construction activities already underway, work is expected to start later this summer to extend Barbadoes Street from its current terminus at Lafayette Street through to Washington Street. A section of the Schuylkill River Trail will be re-routed through the work area during construction.
This new Barbadoes Street Connection will allow Main Street motorists to access Washington Street and Water Street from the east side of Markley Street, improving traffic movement through the busy intersection or Markley and Main streets by eliminating the existing left turn from westbound Main Street onto Water Street.
Markley Street remains 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.
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.