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422 River Crossing

US 422 River Crossing Complex

Reconstruction of infrastructure designed for traffic demands of the mid-1960s will help sustain the remarkable growth of the Philadelphia suburbs.

Details
Markets
Services Provided
Program Management
Site and Land Development
Environmental
Client
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 6-0
Project Contact
R. Robert Morrison, PE
Associate Vice President, Project Manager
215-922-8080

US 422 Bridge Replacement over the Schuylkill River, King of Prussia, PA

Growth has transformed King of Prussia and Pottstown—two Philadelphia suburbs— into some of the largest economic centers in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region. US Route 422 and the bridge at Valley Forge over the Schuylkill River link these suburbs to Philadelphia. Severe congestion on the expressway and bridge, which was designed for the traffic of the mid-1960s, led PennDOT to complete a major reconstruction. The project is one of the "US 422 River Crossing Complex Projects," which are geared to improve multi-modal travel and reduce congestion along US 422 between the PA Route 23 and PA Route 363 interchanges.

 

photo 1 s r 0422 section srb us 422 schuylkill river bridge

Constructed in 1965, the original US 422 Schuylkill River Bridge was an eight-span, welded steel girder bridge, 805 feet long and 72 feet wide. This photo captures Stage 1 causeway construction and depicts the WB footprint of the project. The background includes the adjacent Sullivan’s Bridge and Valley Forge National Historical Park.

photo 2 s r 0422 section srb us 422 schuylkill river bridge

The replacement structure is a five-span, prestressed concrete beam bridge, 785 feet long and 146 feet wide, spanning the Schuylkill River, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and an Upper Merion Township Trail. The bridge features combination wall and tulip-shaped column piers with architectural surface treatments. Credit: J.D. Eckman, Inc.

photo 3 s r 0422 section srb us 422 schuylkill river bridge

The reconfigured PA 23 (Valley Forge Road) interchange included the replacement of the original Valley Forge Road Bridge; the removal of the US 422 EB off-ramp to PA 23; and the construction of a new, two-lane, flyover ramp. The background shows North Gulph Road and Valley Forge National Historical Park’s entrance. Credit: J.D. Eckman, Inc.

photo 4 s r 0422 section srb us 422 schuylkill river bridge

The completed US 422 Schuylkill River Bridge provides a six-lane (plus EB and WB auxiliary lanes) facility connecting the reconfigured PA 23 (Valley Forge Road) and PA 363 (Trooper Road) interchanges. The foreground shows the noise barrier constructed adjacent to Valley Forge National Historical Park. Credit: JBC Associates, Inc.

photo 5 s r 0422 section srb us 422 schuylkill river bridge

The completed, reconfigured PA 23 (Valley Forge Road) interchange includes a two-span, prestressed concrete beam bridge, 120 feet long and 87 feet wide, carrying PA 23 over US 422 and a two-span, curved steel girder bridge, 193 feet long and 44 feet wide, carrying US 422 EB off-ramp to PA 23. The background shows the adjacent First Presbyterian Church of Port Kennedy cemetery. Credit: JBC Associates, Inc.

Growth Beyond Philadelphia

This roughly $110 million effort, located in Upper Merion, West Norriton, and Lower Providence townships in Montgomery County, focused on the replacement of four bridges, including crossings over the Schuylkill River. It also included construction of widened and reconstructed shoulders, new interchanges with PA 23 and PA 363 adjacent to Valley Forge National Historical Park, and a flyover ramp connecting US 422 with Valley Forge Road. Urban provided environmental studies, preliminary engineering, final design, and construction consultation for the project.

 

The new, 785-foot-long, five-span bridge over the Schuylkill offers eight lanes — double the lanes on the original structure. It features combination wall and tulip-shaped column piers and spans Norfolk Southern Railroad and the Upper Merion Trail.

 

To complete the interchange improvements, a 2,400-foot-long section of North Gulph Road, which crosses under US 422 and then runs parallel to the highway, will be shifted about 400-feet closer to US 422. The new connections to the local road network and increased capacity will support future growth and development in the Philadelphia region.

 

Highlights

  • Stakeholder coordination/public relations
  • Archaeologic relocation of interments
  • Maintenance and protection of traffic
  • Stormwater management design
  • Environmental studies
  • Roadway, structural, and ITS design
  • Constructability review