Bridge Beam Deliveries Slow Traffic in Doylestown

Traffic in the heart of Doylestown came to a stop Tuesday night - and will again on Thursday - to make way for an extra wide load.

Immense bridge beams were moved through the borough on oversized trucks, even negotiating a tricky turn at the intersection of Main and Court. They were bound for the site of Route 202 Parkway construction off of Lower State Road in Doylestown Township.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the moves last week. Another move is scheduled for Thursday night between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., the department said. Two beams are scheduled to come through at 6 p.m. and two more at 7 p.m. The move is contingent upon the weather.

A total of 12 concrete bridge beams - four at a time - will have been trucked through Doylestown by the time it's all over, PennDOT said.

Borough manager John Davis captured two of the trucks on video, which you can see on youtube.

Whether you want to see Thursday night's beam move for yourself, or whether you want to avoid it, here's the route the trucks will follow, according to PennDOT.

Route 611 North to the Route 313 Exit; turn right on Route 313 and follow Route 313 to Main Street; turn right on Main Street and follow to Court Street; turn right on Court Street, which then changes name to Lower State Road in Doylestown Township; and follow Lower State Road for about a mile to the Parkway construction area.

According to PennDOT, the 12 concrete beams are 158 feet long. They will be set in place for the bridge being built to carry the Route 202 Parkway over the Neshaminy Creek in Doylestown Township.
 
This operation is part of PennDOT’s $42.2 million contract to build the northern section of the Route 202 Parkway between Pickertown Road in Warrington and Route 611 in Doylestown Township. James D. Morrissey, Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor.
 
PennDOT currently has two contracts in construction to build the new 8.6 mile long Route 202 Parkway between Route 63 in Montgomery Township, Montgomery County, and Route 611. The Parkway is scheduled to open in mid-2012.
 
For additional information on the Route 202 Parkway, visit www.us202-700.com.