Re-Opening of Kriebel and Bethel Roads

November 7, 2008

Contact: Mimi Lindelow, Public Involvement Specialist
Public Information
610-952-1522

Kriebel and Bethel Roads Will Re-Open to Local Traffic this Month
Work on Walton Road Bridge, Route 202 Bridge to Begin Soon

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA. (Nov. 7, 2008) — The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced today that the Kriebel Road Bridge (Township Road 395) and the Bethel Road Bridge (State Route 3006) are scheduled to reopen to local traffic in time for Thanksgiving. Local road detours have been in effect since January on these two bridges that cross over the Turnpike’s Northeastern Extension.

Kriebel Road Bridge will reopen by Nov. 13 and Bethel Road Bridge will reopen by Nov. 25.

The two structures were replaced at a cost of $7.3 million to accommodate the six-lane widening of I-476 north of the Mid-County Interchange. In all, seven overhead bridges are targeted for replacement as part of the 10.5 mile Northeastern Extension total reconstruction and widening project. The Kriebel Road Bridge and the Bethel Road Bridge are in final stages of construction within the project’s southern corridor. Both bridges feature a stone architectural treatment which will be incorporated into the design on the remaining five overhead bridges.

Phase 2 of the project includes demolition and replacement of the Walton Road (State Route 3012) and Rt. 202 (DeKalb Pike) overhead structures. The $12 million construction project was recently awarded to R.E. Pierson Construction Co. with the notice to proceed on Sept. 30. Both bridges will be built using staged construction so traffic can be maintained with no local detours. For Turnpike traffic, however, some off-peak single lane patterns and other closures will be necessary to complete the work.

Utility relocation along Walton Road (Plymouth Township) is currently under way and precedes the bridge-demolition work. Work is not scheduled to begin on the DeKalb Pike Bridge (Whitpain Township) until after the utilities are relocated.

Construction to replace the Morris Road, Bustard Road and Sumneytown Pike overhead structures is scheduled to begin between 2010 and 2011.

Questions and/or concerns regarding the entire 10.5 mile corridor and Phase 2, the Walton Road and Route 202 bridge projects can be directed to the Turnpike Commission’s construction project hotline at 1-877-855-2545 on a 24-hour basis, Sunday through Saturday.

For additional information, visit the project web site at www.paturnpike.com (click on “Major Construction Projects”). The Pennsylvania Turnpike urges the motoring public to stay alert and to travel at posted speed limits through all highway work zones.

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