Blair Mill, Horsham Road Projects Could Take Decade To Complete

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —Two major road projects received the green light, but township officials said it could take a decade for both to be completed.

The Horsham Township Council unanimously approved awarding $1.43 million to Michael Baker International for engineering services for two road improvement projects at its meeting last week.

The first involves Phase III of the Blair Mill Road Transportation Improvement Project, Township Manager Bill Walker said.

Phase III, which will cost $697,000 for engineering, includes work on Blair Mill Road between its intersections with Witmer and Commerce roads and Route 611 near the CVS and P.J. Whelihan's, Walker said.

Blair Mill Road would be widened to five lanes from Welsh Road to Route 611.

"This takes time," said Walker, pointing out that Phase II is just beginning construction after the project received approval in January 2016.

Walker said Phase III could take 7-10 years to complete.

He said utility work should begin on Phase II next month with construction expected next year.

The second project could be another "7-10 year process," Walker told the council.

That work calls for replacing the bridge on Horsham Road near the entrance to the Little League fields. The cost for engineering is $737,000.

Walker said the bridge replacement should happen faster than the Blair Mill Road Phase III project, but could still take five years. He said the bridge work can be completed easier because the township owns the land on both sides of the road near the bridge and there are no right-of-way acquisitions necessary.

After that, the township would widen Horsham Road to five lanes to the township's municipal complex.

"Are any of us going to be alive?" Council President Mark McCouch said about the length of time it will take to complete both projects.

Walker said the township received grants to cover some of the engineering costs.