This existing 58-foot-long steel I-beam bridge in Cheltenham Township was structurally deficient and needed to be replaced because of excessive deterioration. In fact, throughout the course of designing the new bridge, numerous emergency repairs were needed to keep the bridge in service. The bridge is in a high-traffic area prone to flooding, so extra caution was taken to ensure public safety during and after construction. RETTEW addressed this concern by keeping the adjacent Tookany Parkway open throughout construction. We designed a new prestressed-concrete spread box-beam bridge and incorporated an arched facade and architectural pattern to replicate the original bridge.

One of the biggest hurdles in this project was acquiring right-of-way from a property adjacent to the bridge, which delayed the project for ten years. The design was completed within two years. However, by the time the right-of-way was acquired, the original design needed to be updated to current standards, and new approvals needed to be issued. RETTEW completed the design, reapplied for the permits, and put the project out to bid with no supplement for design. Our specialized experience and technical competence, cost-effective solutions, and ability to meet tight schedules enabled us to navigate challenges and bring this much-needed bridge replacement to fruition for Cheltenham Township.