Workers for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation began preparation Monday morning to replace sidewalks on a South Main Street bridge that passes over the Ingham Creek near the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope.
Plans call for both existing sidewalks to be demolished, and new concrete sidewalks to be installed on South Main Street (Route 32) between West Mechanic and West Ferry streets.
All work will be conducted from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with overtime on some days as needed, according to subcontractor Loftus Construction, Inc. The project will cost $7.5 million, PennDOT records indicate.
During construction, traffic will be shifted away from the given walk being worked on, and protected with a barrier. Two lanes of traffic will be maintained during all non-working hours and weekends. To accommodate traffic set up and deliveries, says Loftus, there may be some intermittent single lane patterns, with flaggers throughout the duration of the work.
Work will be begin with removal of the existing sidewalk on the South (or West) side, and then proceed to the North or East side. Loftus said they anticipate each side will take approximately three weeks to complete, for a total of six weeks. That estimate would put completion at the end of March.
PennDOT undertook the project in response to persistent requests from New Hope Borough Council, and Senator Charles “Chuck” McIlhinney’s office was “instrumental in supporting the borough in gaining PennDOT approval,” according to a Borough Hall official.
Workers were able to paint a new center line, despite light snow.
PennDOT workers were seen Monday placing concrete barriers on Route 32 along the western side of the road, and painting a new double yellow line to delineate the altered traffic pattern.
PennDOT offices were closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day.
Rocking PennDOT style.
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