East Church Road will be closed to through traffic between South Henderson Road and Crooked Lane beginning at 9:00AM on Monday, November 30, 2020 for approximately 30 months, the Upper Merion Transportation Authority (UMTA) announced today.
UMTA will reconstruct the East Church Road Bridge over the SEPTA Norristown High Speed Line, and fully close the road to all traffic from Yerkes Road to Drew Court. The project will also include the replacement of an existing Frog Run culvert with a larger precast concrete arch culvert below East Church Road, as well as widening of the bridge for easier future passage, and the installation of a sidewalk on one side. Road-Con, Inc. of West Chester, PA was awarded the project with a $5.1 Million construction bid. The bridge reconstruction is a UMTA-designed local project, funded by federal and state dollars and with review and approval by PennDOT. Construction also includes PennDOT oversight and involvement.
While East Church Road is closed, the detour route will be via South Henderson Road to Shoemaker Road to Yerkes Road to Crooked Lane. Only the area near the bridge will be closed completely to traffic. However, the primary route for most traffic will be what is highlighted on the detour map, in an effort to keep most traffic on Henderson, Shoemaker, and Crooked Lane. Motorists needing to access East Church businesses before or after the bridge will still be able to do so, as well as all properties on Crooked Lane, Shoemaker, and Yerkes.
We understand the challenges that come with a project like this and urge all motorists to exercise caution and allow extra time when navigating the detour.