Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) officials announced that they will open a new southbound Lincoln Drive bridge over Ridge Avenue at the Gustine Lake Interchange in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – six weeks ahead of schedule.

The old Lincoln Drive span over Ridge Avenue was built in 1964 and is one of four structurally deficient bridges at the interchange that has or is being replaced as part of a $20-million project to improve the Gustine Lake Interchange, which moves nearly 100,000 motorists a day between City Avenue, Lincoln Drive, Kelly Drive, and Ridge Avenue.

Urban has been providing Construction Management and Construction Inspection services to PennDOT for the Gustine Lake Interchange improvement project since June 2010. Regarding Urban’s role in the bridge reopening, Leo Leonetti, PE, Vice President of Construction Services and Project Manager, stated, “Initially, Urban’s preliminary constructability review resulted in the project’s duration, which was originally planned as five years, to be shortened to two. This, in addition to our personnel taking a proactive approach in identifying project issues before they could arise and create delays, was vital to keeping the project ahead of schedule.”

Thanks to a cohesive team effort, which included PennDOT, Buckley Construction Company, Urban Engineers, Michael Baker, Inc., and the Philadelphia Streets Department, the reopening of Lincoln Drive Bridge has given much needed relief to thousands of commuters who use the route daily.

The entire project, funded primarily by federal stimulus funds, is scheduled to finish later this fall.