West Donegal Township closed Newville Road Bridge in the 1990s because of excessive corrosion in its asphalt-filled metal deck pans. After receiving federal funding administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for the project, the Township selected RETTEW to develop a new bridge and approach roadway that met both PennDOT and Amtrak design criteria.

RETTEW worked with the Township and local stakeholders to secure land rights and electrical system modification approval from Amtrak. In cooperation with PennDOT, RETTEW also led a first-of-its-kind agreement with the Amtrak electrical workers union to allow outside contractors the ability to perform electrical work on Amtrak facilities, greatly increasing delivery time not only for the Newville Road Bridge, but for future PennDOT projects across the state. Throughout the construction process there were no interruptions or shutdowns to Amtrak’s service. The new three-span prestressed-concrete box-beam bridge features a thin profile and new horizontal alignment, is 10 feet wider than the previous bridge, and has safer approach roadways. Since the bridge was closed, motorists were traveling to nearby Elizabethtown Borough to cross the railroad tracks. Now that the bridge is open, it provides a railroad crossing on the west side of the borough, which greatly reduces traffic congestion in the downtown area.