Construction Finishes on Southbound Stony Creek Bridge, Barbadoes Street Extension
December 23, 2021 – Construction of the new southbound Markley Street (U.S. 202 South) bridge over Stony Creek finished in late fall (see below), along with the extension of Barbadoes Street, as crews look ahead to continuing utility and drainage work on the southbound side between Elm Street and Main Street over the coming months.
Construction of the new southbound bridge began last summer following completion of the new northbound structure and a traffic shift that moved southbound Markley Street traffic onto the new northbound bridge. Northbound Markley Street traffic continues to be detoured through neighboring Bridgeport and along DeKalb Pike through Norristown around the project area during construction.
Installation of underground electric facilities for the highway lighting and other utility work continues on the southbound side of Markley Street (see right) as conditions permit over the cold weather months. Stormwater drainage operations also are expected to expand from south of the bridge to Main Street this winter.
Replacement of rail crossing gates over SEPTA tracks at the Main Street and Marshall Street intersections will begin this winter or in early spring.
Rehabilitation of the existing stone arch bridge that cuts diagonally under the intersection of Markley and Elm streets is scheduled to begin by late spring 2022. That intersection will be closed and detoured for several months during work on the bridge.
To the east of Markley Street, Barbadoes Street has been extended between Lafayette Street and Washington Street and opened to traffic in late fall (see below). This extension of Barbadoes Street will ease some of the congestion on westbound Main Street at its intersection with Markley Street by providing an alternate route to Lafayette and Washington streets on the west side of Norristown.
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.
Additional improvements to U.S. 202 are currently underway north of Johnson Highway in East Norriton and Whitpain townships. Go here for information about that project.