The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that construction will begin on Monday, February 6, on a project to improve mobility and safety on Route 29 (Main Street) between 10th Street and 11th Street in Pennsburg and Red Hill boroughs, Montgomery County.

            Under this contract, PennDOT's contractor will remove the superstructure and its upper portion of the existing Route 29 (Main Street) bridge over the former abandoned Perkiomen Railroad. This will eliminate the thru girder beams at the edge of the travel lanes to help elevate crashes and improve safety along the corridor.

            Other safety features include:

• Constructing sidewalks along both sides of the roadway to improve pedestrian access;
• Re-aligning the vertical profile to improve sight distance and reduce rear-end type crashes; and
• Installing upgraded signage, guiderails, and pavement markings.

            Beginning, Monday, February 6, motorists are advised of the following travel restriction: 

• Monday, February 6, through Friday, February 10, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, a lane closure is scheduled on Route 29 (Main Street) between 10th Street and 11th Street for clearing, erosion and sedimentation work, and debris removal.

           Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the work area because backups and delays may occur. All scheduled activities are weather dependent.

            To address speeding and traffic congestion through the work area, the project will include variable message signs, speed humps, temporary traffic signals, and other safety measures.

            Due to the nature of construction, Route 29 (Main Street) will be closed and detoured in the project area later this winter. Motorists and pedestrians will be directed to follow the posted detour routes

            The 94-year-old, 25-foot-wide, steel girder bridge carries approximately 8,611 vehicles per day.

            H & K Group, Inc. in Skippack, PA is the general contractor on this $3.2 million project, which is financed with 100% state funds.

            The planned closure of the Main Street bridge in Pennsburg could lead to bus route changes for students in the Upper Perkiomen School District. Last week, its transportation coordinator informed the members that she was working to reroute all traffic away from the work at the structure, located between 10th and 11th streets.

            Jennifer Malone described the entire process as challenging during her presentation. She said during the Jan. 26 workshop meeting that the process has given her agita.

            Parents will have access to the updated routes beginning on Feb. 3 on Skyward, the district's student information system, according to Malone. She said her department will contact any affected families.

           On Feb. 17, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is expected to close Main Street between 8th and 11th streets to replace the structure near the Red Hill border. Alexis Jenofsky, the district's communications specialist, could not identify what percentage of the district's 204 routes would be altered.

            "Mrs. Malone and her team are doing their best to keep run times the same," Jenofsky wrote in a Jan. 27 email message.

            Further adjustment ...