Arcola Road Bridge Officially Open

The Great Detour of 2013-2016 has finally come to a close.

The Arcola Road Bridge officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m.

At 3 p.m., the bridge opened to traffic for the first time in three years.

The bridge was closed in August 2013 after it was found to have structural issues. Upper and Lower Providence residents who used the bridge to get to and from Collegeville and Phoenixville have had to detour either via Ridge Pike or Egypt Road and Route 422.

Many of the detour routes had been bumper to bumper at rush hour, and frequently at other points during the week.

The length of time it took to complete the bridge has been a matter of controversy in the area, as residents noted that workers were seemingly absent from the work site last fall.

Officials urged motorists to use caution as the bridge reopened, as the residential area is not accustomed to high levels of traffic over the past few years.

Officials also noted that the bridge now permits emergency vehicles. Weight limits previously restricted travel over the bridge.