4-Year U.S. 1 Project In Bensalem Starts Next Week

BENSALEM, PA — A four-year, $97 million project to widen and improve a 1.3-mile section of U.S. 1 in Bensalem will get started on Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf's office announced on Tuesday.

The work will be done between Old Lincoln Highway and just south of the Neshaminy interchange in Bensalem. It's part of a larger project that will replace aging bridges and enhance driver safety along a four-mile section of the expressway from just north of Philadelphia to just north of Rt. 413 (Pine Street) in Middletown and Langhorne.

"This project is a key component of a multi-phase effort to improve travel and safety along a heavily traveled portion of U.S. 1 in Bucks County," Wolf said. "It’s major infrastructure investments like these that are helping our transportation network and local economies flourish."

During the phase that begins Monday, work crews will:

• Build a third travel lane along U.S. 1 in each direction from the Route 132 (Street Road) interchange to just north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange
• Build an auxiliary lane along U.S 1 in each direction between the Route 132 (Street Road) and Pennsylvania Turnpike interchanges
• Raise the profile of U.S. 1 from south of the Route 132 (Street Road) Interchange to north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange to improve vertical clearances for U.S. 1 structures over Route 132 (Street Road), the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Interchange ramps
• Upgrade U.S. 1 interchanges at Route 132 (Street Road) and the Pennsylvania Turnpike
• Adding a northbound right-turn lane along U.S. 1 from Old Lincoln Highway to Route 132 (Street Road)
• Reconfigure the Route 132 (Street Road) Interchange and add a ramp from Route 132 (Street Road) eastbound to U.S. 1 southbound
• Increase the existing loop ramp radius to improve design speed to 30 miles-per-hour and incorporate a second lane on the U.S 1 northbound exit ramp to the Pennsylvania Turnpike
• Remove the existing bridge that carries U.S. 1 over a closed private access road
• Rebuild four bridges.

Also as part of the project, a sound barrier and retaining wall will be built, along with 13 sign structures, new traffic signals and other equipment. Sewer and water lines will be moved and drainage and stormwater systems will be upgraded.

The first work you're likely to see starting next week will be the relocation of utilities and minor upgrades and improvements needed to keep traffic moving during the main construction stage, which is slated to start in the spring.

That early work this fall and winter will include temporary rebuilding and widening of shoulders along U.S. 1 and Street Road, installing a traffic light at the intersection of Street Road and Township Road, extending Township Road to several businesses on U.S. 1 and building a new driveway for the Red Roof Inn.

Allan A. Myers, Inc. of Worcester, Montgomery County is the general contractor on the project, which has a total price tag of $97,352,764. It's being financed with 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent from the state.

All work on the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, Wolf's office said.

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