Bristol Township gets $2M to repair, reopen Edgely bridge. Replacement will have to wait

JD Mullane, Bucks County Courier Times
·2 min read

The Edgely bridge, which spans Amtrak's heavily traveled Northeast Corridor through Lower Bucks County, will be renovated and reopened with assistance of $2 million in state funding.

The Randall Avenue bridge has been closed to traffic and detoured for over a year, causing headaches for residents in the Edgely section of Bristol Township.

Why was the Edgely bridge closed?

It's old (built in 1919) and chunks of its deteriorating concrete undergirding were falling onto train tracks, some striking passing freight, passenger and commuter trains.

"This could be catastrophic," township engineer Kurt Schroeder told frustrated residents at a town hall meeting in January.

The bridge, which connects the rest of the township with the riverfront Edgely community, was shut to traffic in February 2023 pending a study on whether it can be repaired or replaced.

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The Edgely bridge was closed Feb. 23 after concrete chunks fell from the crumbling structure and struck a CSX freight train. The bridge, built in 1919, will have to be replaced, and Bristol Township has applied for a $25 million federal RAISE grant for demo and construction, said Bristol Township Manager Randee Elton.
The Edgely bridge was closed Feb. 23 after concrete chunks fell from the crumbling structure and struck a CSX freight train. The bridge, built in 1919, will have to be replaced, and Bristol Township has applied for a $25 million federal RAISE grant for demo and construction, said Bristol Township Manager Randee Elton.

When will the bridge reopen?

It's unclear. While the money for the repairs is available, it will take time to make it safe for passing traffic, officials said.

Part of the problem is that the bridge has a posted 3-ton vehicle weight limit, but work and delivery trucks far heavier than that regularly used the bridge before its sudden closure. How the township deals with keeping heavy vehicles off the span isn't clear, either.

At a meeting last January, it was suggested that a police patrol be stationed there to ticket lawbreakers, but that may be impractical.

Will the Edgely bridge be replaced?

Yes, but funding isn't locked in yet. Bristol Township, which is responsible for bridge maintenance, needs at least $25 million for a replacement and the cash will have to come from state and possibly federal sources.

Said State Sen. Steve Santarsiero in a prepared statement announcing the funding: “The repair and re-opening of the Randall Avenue bridge is critical for the safety of Bristol Township residents. This is an important first step while state and federal officials support the township’s long-term goal of rebuilding and replacing the structure.  I will continue to work with the township to address the concerns of the residents and the community, and support state funding for the rebuilding of the bridge.”

He and state Rep. Tina Davis, D-141, worked to secure the funding.

How have residents of Edgely dealt with the closure?

Their biggest concern is that emergency medical services must take the long way around to get from the west side of the track to the river side. Delays in critical situations, such as heart attacks or automobile crashes, are life-threatening, said residents at a meeting with local, state and federal officials last January.

JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township gets $2 million to repair, reopen Edgely bridge