State Road (U.S. 1) over Darby Creek Bridge Replacement

County: Delaware
Municipalities: Springfield and Upper Darby Townships
State Route: U.S. 1
Local Name: State Road
Project Type: Bridge Replacement
Last Updated: April 2025

This project will replace the existing structure carrying State Road (U.S. 1) over Darby Creek in Springfield and Upper Darby Townships, Delaware County.  To facilitate traffic control during construction, the proposed replacement structure will be widened approximately 13’ in the northbound direction.  During construction, this additional bridge width allows for two travel lanes in each direction, a southbound left turn lane, and one sidewalk.  Due to the high traffic volumes and the intersections located near the bridge, reducing the number of lanes during construction would severely impact traffic flow, resulting in significant delays along Route 1, at the adjacent intersection, and on the adjacent roadways.  In the final condition, the additional bridge width will be used as a wide shoulder on the bridge and an auxiliary lane north of the bridge. The proposed bridge provides for two southbound travel lanes, a southbound left turn lane, two northbound travel lanes, a northbound auxiliary lane, along with shoulders and sidewalks on both sides.  The northbound auxiliary lane will provide for right turns from Route 1 NB to WAWA and State Road (SR 2026).

The proposed structure replaces the existing two-span steel structure with a 105’-11” long single-span prestressed concrete bulb-tee beam bridge. The existing abutments will be removed and replaced with new reinforced concrete abutments.  There will be minimal roadway work, which includes new bridge approach slabs, new storm sewers adjacent to the bridge, and replacement of sidewalk and guiderail.  To accommodate traffic control lane shifts on Route 1, approximately 1,200 linear feet of concrete mountable median will be replaced with temporary pavement. The median will be restored in the final condition, and pavement will be milled and resurfaced.  Other structure improvements include the removal of the existing pier in Darby Creek and scour projection in front of both bridge abutments.  The existing traffic signal at the intersection of State Road and Rolling Road will be replaced with new traffic signal equipment.  Existing utilities will be adjusted and relocated as part of the project, including Springfield Sanitary Sewer, AQUA PA, PECO Gas, PECO Electric, and Verizon. 

This project is needed to replace the existing structurally deficient steel bridge built in 1950.  The overall condition of the structure is poor based on the superstructure condition rating.  The existing steel beams exhibit severe rust and section loss, and the concrete deck includes spalls and severely rusted reinforcing steel.  The channel exhibits advanced scour impacting the low of Darby Creek near the bridge.