Bridge over Pa. Turnpike in Bucks County to Close Early Monday

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA (10/22/2010)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is reminding motorists that the bridge carrying Bristol-Oxford Valley Road (State Route 2029) over the Turnpike in Bristol Township will be closed to traffic starting Monday, Oct. 25. The closure and resulting detour is needed because the bridge will be demolished and replaced with a wider structure to accommodate a new, highway-speed link to I-95 that will eventually be built just west of the location.

The bridge, which crosses above I-276 at Turnpike milepost 357, will be closed at 7 a.m. Monday, and the detour will remain in place until the new bridge opens in November 2011. Located a half mile west of the Delaware Valley Interchange (Exit 358), the Bristol-Oxford Valley Road (BOV) Bridge is scheduled for demolition by year's end.

Beginning Monday, BOV Road will be detoured between Mill Creek Road and Bath Road (State Route 2049). Motorists will follow these PennDOT-approved alternative routes:

• Northbound - Turn left onto Bath Road; turn right onto Veterans Highway (State Route 0413 – formerly New Rodgers Road); turn right onto New Falls Road (State Route 2006). Detour ends at BOV Road Bridge.

• Southbound - Turn right onto New Falls Road; turn left onto Veterans Highway; turn left onto Bath Road. Detour ends at BOV Road Bridge.

Earlier this month, motorists traveling near the BOV Road Bridge were alerted about the closure by message signs. Additionally, project meetings were held with state and local elected officials and newsletters mailed to neighboring residents.

Galloway Road over the Turnpike in Bensalem Township is also scheduled to be closed and detoured on Nov.15 as part of the $9.7 million toll-funded bridge replacement contract, and information on this detour will be made available closer to the closure date.

Work on the Turnpike under the BOV Road Bridge and the Galloway Road Bridge at milepost 353 is under way. Motorists traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will encounter nighttime single-lane closures and a 55 mph work zone near the bridges. There will also be occasions when the section of the Turnpike between the Bensalem and Delaware Valley Interchanges will be closed in both directions with off-Pike detours for beam removal and replacement.

Information on the detour routes, future construction, project staging and travel advisories is available on the Pennsylvania Turnpike's homepage at www.paturnpike.com. Under "Quick Links" click on Major Design and Construction Projects then select I-95 Interchange (Traffic Cone H).

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is committed to distributing complete, accurate and consistent travel information and providing exceptional customer service. Visit the PA Turnpike website at www.paturnpike.com or be in the know before you go and call 866.976 TRIP (866.976.8747).