Valley Forge's Sullivan's Trail Bridge Wins Transportation Award

VALLEY FORGE, PA -- Sullivan's Bridge, the brand new bike and pedestrian trail across the Schuylkill River in Valley Forge, has been honored with a transportation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the National Park Service were both honored with the 2017 Transportation Award from the King of Prussia District, a local nonprofit.

The 14-foot-wide, 604-foot-long bridge provides an important access point for walkers, runners, and bikers to travel from the Betzwood and Schuylkill River side of Valley Forge to the headquarters side. The bridge provides a smooth connection from the Schuylkill River Trail to the heart of Valley Forge.

“The addition of Sullivan’s Bridge provides residents, employees and visitors of Valley Forge/King of Prussia with safe recreational opportunities that can be utilized year-round,” King of Prussia District Executive Director Eric Goldstein said in a statement.

The bridge is named for Revolutionary War Major General John Sullivan, who was charged by George Washington with building a bridge across the Schuylkill during the Continental Army's infamous 1777-78 winter encampment at Valley Forge.

Previously, bikers and pedestrians used a shaky, cracked wooden bridge to cross the Schuylkill River that was attached to U.S. 422.

Work on the bridge began in March of 2014 and was completed last August. Engineering was overseen by PennDOT and the Upper Merion Transportation Authority, while J.D. Eckman was the contractor. The federally-funded project cost $9,271,458.

The National Park Service now owns the bridge and will maintain it into the future, while the right of way is owned by Upper Merion and West Norriton townships.

Image via Valley Forge National Park