Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Named a “Top Bridge” by Industry Magazine

As part of its annual review of excellence in roadway and bridge design and construction, Roads and Bridges magazine has named the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement in Bucks County, PA, and Mercer County, NJ, a “Top Bridge” for 2022.

STV, as a subconsultant to Michael Baker International, provided design services for the widening and reconstruction of 2.2 miles of I-295 – a significant piece of the larger program to replace the 4.4-mile-long highway/bridge system, which is owned by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. STV’s scope of work included a grade-separated interchange at Taylorsville Road, traffic analyses, and designs for highway drainage systems and two approach bridge replacements. Additionally, the firm designed infrastructure to support an all-electronic toll collection system, electronic surveillance monitoring, roadway lighting, and intelligent transportation system facilities in Pennsylvania.

“The new Scudder Falls Bridge is improved with acceleration/deceleration lanes, faster travel times, and reduced accident rates,” the article said.

The original Scudder Falls Bridge opened to traffic in June 1961. After the completion of New Jersey’s interstate highway approach in October 1974, the bridge rapidly became an important regional commuter link between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The bridge exceeded its useful service life and intended capacity by the turn of the century, necessitating replacement and a series of related highway and interchange improvements. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, which was assigned ownership of the functionally obsolete bridge in July 1987, pursued a five-year project to build a dual-span replacement bridge and transform the flanking highway corridor now signed as I-295.

Earlier this year, the project was honored as a “Bridge Project of the Year” by the March of Dimes Transportation Building Construction Committee.