Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge (State Route 462)

County: Lancaster
State Route: 0462
Local Name: Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge
Project Type: Bridge Rehabilitation
Proposed Construction Start: Spring 2027
Proposed Construction End: Fall/Winter 2031 
Last Updated: December 2024

The Columbia-Wrightsville Bridge (also known as the Veterans Memorial Bridge or Route 462 Bridge) was opened to traffic in 1930 and connects York and Lancaster Counties along Route 462 over the Susquehanna River. The bridge contains 48 spans, is 1.26 miles long and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to vehicular traffic, the bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists and serves as PA Bike Route S.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) propose a comprehensive bridge rehabilitation project. Studies of the bridge began in 2016, and the scope of work for the project includes:

• Addressing structural deficiencies on the bridge, which naturally occur over time 
• Improving connections for cyclists and pedestrians accessing Columbia Borough’s Northwest River Trail and River Park by adding wayfinding signs and pavement markings
• Improving connections for cyclists and pedestrians accessing Wrightsville Borough’s Mason-Dixon Trail and Riverfront Park by adding wayfinding signs, pavement markings and sidewalk improvements
• Improving the Wrightsville Borough five-point intersection of Routes 462 and 624 (Hellam Street) with North and South 2nd Streets by constructing a roundabout 
• Adding a traffic-calming central median at the eastern end of the bridge on Route 462 at the North 2nd Street intersection 
• Providing lighting improvements above the bridge deck to enhance traveler safety during the annual mayfly season

The project was scheduled to begin construction in Spring 2024; however, structural deficiencies were identified during a bi-annual bridge inspection in June 2023. As a result, PennDOT posted a 10-ton weight restriction on the bridge and concurrently began developing an “interim bridge repairs” project. This interim project will improve areas of concern and construction work is currently underway and is anticipated to be completed by the Fall of 2024. The repairs will not remove the posting, but rather is intended to keep the bridge from a full closure until the future “permanent bridge repairs” work can occur. 

As a result of the significant change in the condition of the bridge, PennDOT has revised the project scope to include more extensive rehabilitation. The major bridge rehabilitation is delayed until PennDOT and FHWA complete additional engineering and environmental evaluation studies for the long-term rehabilitation of the bridge. An approximate 3-year bridge closure to vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians is anticipated within the middle timeframe of an overall 5-year construction project. Vehicles will use US 30 as the primary detour while bikes and pedestrian will be accommodated through transit services. 

To learn more about the project and the future rehabilitation, in addition to other project elements, please view the resources section of this page. 

The project is currently in the preliminary design phase, and work is anticipated to take place between the 2027 and 2031 construction seasons subject to all approvals, environmental clearances, and funding availability.