PennDOT Awarded For Rehabbing Manayunk's Historic Walnut Lane Bridge

PennDOT was recently named a two-time winner of the 2017 Preservation Alliance Grand Jury Awards for the rehabilitation of the historic Walnut Lane Bridge over Wissahickon Creek in Manayunk and the Adams Avenue Bridge over Tacony Creek in Philadelphia.

PennDOT crews rehabilitated the 110-year-old six-span Walnut Lane bridge in 2016 by replacing the deck, sidewalk, sidewalk supports and balustrade railing; repairing the concrete arch, support abutments and piers to match the architectural line and texture of the existing abutments and piers; and installed new lighting.

The project cost $14.7 million and was funded in whole by federal monies, PennDOT said.

“We are honored to receive these distinguished awards as it recognizes PennDOT’s commitment to restoring and preserving historical bridges that are treasured by neighboring communities and vital to our transportation network,” PennDOT District 6 Executive Kenneth M. McClain said in a statement.

TranSystems Corporation, project designer for the Walnut Lane Bridge, Buckley and Company, Inc. of Philadelphia, the project's general contractor, share the award with PennDOT, the agency said.

Work on the structurally-deficient stone-arch Adams Avenue Bridge, which was built in 1901, included repairing and strengthening the three-span structure by resetting and repointing stones and reconstructing portions of the stone masonry walls; removing fill inside the structure and replacing it with lightweight concrete; repairing bridge foundations; rebuilding existing wing walls that extend from the support abutments; widening the right turn lane onto Crescentville Road to improve traffic flow through the intersection; and installing scour protection around the support abutments and piers. This work was performed in 2016.

Alfred Benesch and Company, the project designer for the Adams Avenue Bridge, and the general contractor, Loftus Construction of Cinnaminson, N.J., share the award with PennDOT.

The repair of the Adams Avenue Bridge was completed with 100 percent state funding, PennDOT said.

Image via Google