Limekiln Pike Bridge to Close in 2 Weeks

One lane of the structurally deficient Limekiln Pike bridge connecting Horsham and Montgomery townships has been closed for two years. In two weeks, both lanes will be impassable.

The good news for Pat Kohler, owner of , is that the latest closure - which is scheduled for May 29 - is expected to result in a reopened and fully functional Route 152 bridge come October.

Kohler, whose family farm is located about a half mile south of the bridge in Horsham, the last two years. Last fall, fearing further delays in the nearly $1 million Pennsylvania Department of Transportation rehabilitation project, Kohler worried that she and her son might have to sell the business.

“I can't really say how much more the total closure will effect us,” Kohler said in an e-mail. “We would love to see it re-opened before October. At this point we are so glad to see some movement. We were afraid it might get pushed off constantly.” 

, PennDOT representatives said the bridge would be closed in March 2012 for construction and reopened by Labor Day. PennDOT spokesman Eugene Blaum said a delay in right of way acquisition pushed the project back two months.

Kohler seemed relieved that she’d be able to get through the bulk of May without a total bridge closure.

“May is actually the busiest month of the year so we are glad to make it through this month,” she said.

Prior to settling on a bridge fix, while construction plans were revised, right of way access was sought and a total bridge replacement was sought. The announcement incited residents who were sick of either traveling detours, or having heavy traffic volumes routed through their neighborhoods. , residents urged PennDOT to make the necessary repairs to have it opened as soon as possible.

PennDOT is slated to begin the $987,617 construction project on May 29. Plans call for the rehabilitation of the existing stone arch bridge over Little Neshaminy Creek in Horsham and Montgomery townships.

When construction concludes sometime in October, the bridge, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, will once again carry northbound and southbound traffic. The refurbished bridge will retain its historic appearance and it no longer will be classified as structurally deficient, according to a PennDOT press release.

Built in 1838 and upgraded in 1969, the Route 152 (Limekiln Pike) bridge, since May 2010 has only carried one southbound lane of traffic. Northbound traffic has been detoured since then due to severe structural deterioration of the spandrel wall, which is part of the arch that rises up to the deck. The bridge is posted with a five-ton weight limit. The weight restriction will be removed at the completion of construction, PennDOT officials said.

The bridge carried 9,200 vehicles a day prior to being restricted to only southbound traffic, according to PennDOT.

Once construction begins, crews will work to rebuild deteriorated bridge walls; rebuild the deck; reinforce the foundation underneath the support abutments; perform masonry repairs and repointing; and install a new guide rail.

The Route 152 (Limekiln Pike) bridge will be closed and detoured during construction. The posted detour will use Route 463 (Horsham Road), Kenas Road and County Line Road.