The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission advises motorists that Richlieu Road in Bensalem Township will be closed to traffic and a detour implemented the week of June 24 between Galloway Road and Street Road (State Route 132). The detour is necessary to allow the contractor to realign the existing roadway approaches on either side of the new structure prior to switching traffic to the new bridge.
The new structure was built to the east of the existing bridge to allow traffic to remain on Richlieu Road during the 15-month construction project. The new bridge is significantly longer and includes a new support (pier) in the Turnpike median, two 12-foot travel lanes with 8-foot shoulders, and a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge.
Message boards will be activated to alert motorists of the scheduled closure and detour. Posted detour routes will direct traffic traveling on Richlieu Road:
- Southbound - turn left on Galloway Road, right on Mechanicsville Road, and right on Street Road (State Route 132).
- Northbound - turn right on Street Road (State Route 132), left on Mechanicsville Road, and left on Galloway Road.
Local access on Richlieu Road will be available from either direction to the bridge; however, there will not be any vehicle or pedestrian traffic allowed through the work zone during the closure.
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Following the traffic switch to the new Richlieu Road bridge, the contractor will begin the demolition of the old structure. This will require periodic nighttime lane closures eastbound and westbound on the Turnpike mainline, with reduced speeds of 55 mph/40 mph within the established work zone located between milepost 351-353.
During work to remove the beams from the existing structure will require the Turnpike to be closed for six hours between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. on a Sunday between the Bensalem (Exit #351) and Delaware Valley (Exit #358) Interchanges.
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The contractor’s schedule is subject to change depending on the weather. Construction-zone speed limits are enforceable and fines will be doubled. Motorists are urged to use caution and obey posted speed limits.
The new, wider bridge was constructed to accommodate the future highway-speed link to I-95 to the east. Visit www.paturnpikei95.com for all PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange project updates and travel advisories.
Travelers can get Turnpike traffic alerts by calling 866-976-TRIP (8747) or visiting the live Travel Conditions Map online at www.paturnpike.com/webmap. The Turnpike’s smartphone app, TRIP Talk, streams audio advisories to iPhone and Droid users so they can keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. To download the free app, visit www.paturnpike.com/triptalk.
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