Why the Edgely bridge is still closed in Bristol Township. Here are the options to fix it

The crumbling Edgely Bridge is owned by Bristol Township, but crosses Amtrak's busy Northeast rail corridor, and that's where the trouble starts.

The span, sometimes called the Randall Avenue bridge, has been closed since Feb. 23, 2023 while inspections and assessments of whether it can be repaired, reopened or demolished and replaced.

Residents of Edgely and the surrounding area who use the bridge packed a standing-room only meeting this week for an update. Here's the latest.

Why is the Edgely bridge closed?

The bridge, which connects the rest of the township with the riverfront community of Edgely, was shut to traffic in early 2023 after rail workers reported chunks of concrete falling from its deteriorated underside and had struck passing trains.

"This could be catastrophic," township engineer Kurt Schroeder told frustrated residents.

What is the present status of the Edgely bridge?

It remains closed indefinitely as safety assessments continue.

The twin jurisdictions of the township and Amtrak, as well as involvement with PennDOT, and qualifying for and receiving state and federal funding for temporary repairs or eventual replacement, are hampering progress to reopening the span, township officials said.

All of these complications are due to the bridge's unique status: It's the only township-owned bridge in Pennsylvania that crosses a rail lines.

What caused the Edgely bridge to crumble?

The Edgely bridge was built in 1919, and has been maintained by the township since.

Major repairs were last completed in the early 2000s, but it's the fracturing concrete laminate on the bridge's steel underside that are the main problem.

Built for a three-ton weight limit when Ford Model T's and horse and wagons were common in Lower Bucks County, the bridge cannot withstand decades of heavier vehicles traversing the span, which include heavy pick-up trucks, and Waste Management trash haulers, trucks bearing loads of brick and concrete, and other commercial vehicles that cross the bridge on their way to warehouses and other firms.

Bristol Township has routinely fined overweight trucks for using the bridge, but lacks the resources to place a full-time watch to catch violators. Another critical issue is the deteriorating concrete buttresses the at support the overpass. These may be in such bad shape that the bridge will need to be closed for good until it's replaced.

Previously Is Edgely bridge falling down in Bristol Township ? Here's what we know

What's the hold up on repairs?

Amid those other complicating factors, the township needs special permission from Amtrak to place heavy equipment at the bridge for a comprehensive diagnosis and repair. That equipment is dispatched from Morrisville and takes about a half-hour to get to the bridge.

Amtrak, with its busy rail line that includes the high-speed Acela between New York and D.C., limits the township inspection and repairs from midnight to 4 a.m. The window is so tight, progress is nearly incremental. Another complicating factor is that the rail line's catenary wires which supply power to trains are connected to the bridge.

How much will repairs/replacement cost, and how long before the Edgely bridge reopens?

It will cost about $4 million for a fix of the existing bridge, and that may include strictly limiting the bridge to lighter vehicles, said township Manager Randee Elton.

A tear down and replacement is estimated at $25 million, which the township is seeking through the state's portion of the Biden Administration's infrastructure funding. The township already has a $1 million grant toward repairs, and has the rest of the cash on hand so no taxes will be raised for pay for it.

No one can say when any of this will be completed or when the Edgely bridge will reopen. There are simply too many moving parts to account for before an estimate can be made.

How are residents dealing with the shuttered span?

They are frustrated at the slow pace.

Nearly 80 people packed the Jan. 23 community update meeting, which lasted two hours. One concern is that police, ambulance and fire first responders must take the long way around to get to Edgely, delaying life-saving help.

The two closest alternatives to crossing the train tracks to Edgely are the Green Lane underpass about a mile south in Bristol, or the Tullytown bridge about a mile north. Each puts an extra three to four minutes travel time getting to Edgely. But the Green Lane underpass has a history of flooding, and if it's severe, cuts off passage to Edgely via Farragut Avenue and North Radcliffe Street.

"We're an island," said Debbie Gratz, who lives on North Radcliffe.

What are government officials doing?

Taking it seriously. Several township council members, along with Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-10, state Rep. Tina Davis, D-141, and U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, R-1, attended the meeting. On Monday, Fitzpatrick brought Amtrak CEO Steven Gardner to personally inspect the bridge, which is a positive sign, given Amtrak's other priorities, officials said.

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

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Will the Edgely bridge be replaced? Here's the latest update