PennDOT officials on Tuesday provided Doylestown Township supervisors with a detailed update on plans to replace the nearly century-old bridge carrying Edison Furlong Road over Pebble Creek, a project aimed at improving safety, drainage, and long-term reliability.
The bridge, located just west of Pebble Hill Road and east of Route 263, was built in 1925 and has shown “significant advanced deterioration,” according to project engineer Rebecca Silver of GFT Infrastructure Inc., who presented the update Tuesday night. The structure currently experiences flooding during moderate storm events and shows signs of cracking, exposed steel, and mortar loss.
“We are here to present the Edison Furlong Road over Pebble Creek replacement project,” Silver said, noting the work spans both Doylestown and Buckingham townships.
Aging structure, modern standards
The replacement will swap the existing single-span concrete slab bridge for a reinforced box culvert designed to better handle stormwater and traffic demands. Engineers plan to raise the roadway by about two feet, increasing the structure’s ability to withstand flooding from a 10-year storm event to a 25-year storm.
The redesigned roadway will include two 11-foot travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders, widening the current footprint to meet modern standards. The bridge also will be built to accommodate a future shared-use path on the Doylestown side, though that path is not part of the current project.
Traffic volumes along the corridor are relatively steady, with about 7,100 vehicles per day today and only a slight increase projected by 2046.
Impacts, detours, and property considerations
Construction will require a full closure of Edison Furlong Road at the bridge, with a detour expected to last about three months. The primary detour will route vehicles along Route 611, U.S. 202, Route 313, and Route 263, while a shorter bicycle detour will use local roads.
Silver said the project will involve minimal impacts to surrounding properties, with small right-of-way acquisitions and temporary construction easements needed from four of five nearby parcels. One driveway will also be adjusted to accommodate the widened roadway.
Environmental impacts are expected to be limited, though the project will require state permitting due to work within the creek and nearby wetlands. Utility work will include relocating five poles, with no anticipated service disruptions.
Timeline stretches to 2028
The project remains in preliminary engineering, which is expected to wrap up by the end of April. Final design is scheduled to run through November, with PennDOT planning to advertise the project for bids in September 2027 and award it in November.
Construction is anticipated to begin in June 2028, after the school year ends, with the roadway scheduled to reopen by August before classes resume.
During the presentation, Supervisor Dan Wood asked whether the project would affect a nearby single-lane bridge on Pebble Hill Road.
Silver said the work is limited to the Edison Furlong Road structure, though drivers may seek alternate routes during the closure.
Vice Chair Barbara Lyons asked about project oversight and funding. Silver confirmed PennDOT is leading the effort, which is funded through a combination of about 80% federal and 20% state dollars, with no direct cost to the municipalities.
The presentation followed a previously announced public outreach effort, with a second meeting scheduled for March 25 in Buckingham Township as PennDOT continues to gather feedback from residents.
More information, including plans and a public comment form, is expected to be posted on a forthcoming PennDOT project webpage.
