The Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project is being staged in a manner that will minimize impacts to traffic, local business and communities. In part to avoid traffic impacts, trestle causeways are being built into the river to enable work crews to access and build the new bridge from both shorelines.
See below for the list of major construction tasks that are underway. Check back regularly as construction schedules are subject to change.
Construction Update - Week of October 19
Major project work activities for the week of October 19 include:
- I-295: install drainage and fill-in areas of drop off, top soil and seed. Reset temporary barrier, excavate and mill and overlay near Newtown exit. Continue installing moment slabs at retaining walls A; install underdrain and membrane at retaining walls B.
- Taylorsville Road: place/cure concrete for deck on Taylorsville Road bridge. Repair waterline, perform roadway widening and install drainage on Taylorsville Road.
- Pennsylvania approach: continue installation of MSE panels and moment slabs at retaining walls. At PA side of pedestrian bridge, patch/rub deck overhang and touch-up paint on structural steel. Resume trestle construction for MRB.
- Main River Bridge: Continue installation of drainage and roadway construction. Continue trestle/finger construction. Resume demolition of existing MRB piers Continue installing deck rebar, set up bidwell and place concrete for deck. At Piers 2 and 3, continue construction and place concrete for pier caps. At Pier 4, continue forming and place concrete for pier footing.
- NJ approach – Continue ITS/fiber cut-over and highway lighting conduit/ junction box installation at various locations. Continue wall installation at ramp walls in NJ. Excavate and install barrier/moment slabs on I295NB. Replace approach slab compression seal at southbound MRB abutments. Continue soldier pile/drilled shaft installation at NJ pedestrian walkway and work on pier columns.
- See related Route 29 North lane diversion, as well as closure of Rt. 175, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Construction Schedule
| Milestone/Activity | Date/Status |
|---|---|
| Project Construction Start | Spring 2017 |
| Install temporary trestle upstream of the existing bridge | Completed/fully removed |
| Construct upstream span of the new bridge | Completed |
| Widening (to the inside) of the PA I-295 approach – from Exit 8 (old exit 49) to the bridge | Upstream half completed/second phase now in progress |
| First span of new bridge open to traffic | Opened overnight July 9, 2019 |
| Start All-Electronic Tolling (PA-bound only) | July 14, 2019 |
| Second span of new bridge open to traffic | Late 2021 |
| Estimated Project Completion | Early 2022 |
