The following is a news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)

March 2, 2010

Part of Lincoln Drive in Philadelphia to Close Next Two Weekends for Overhead Bridge Construction  

King of Prussia – Lincoln Drive will be closed and detoured between Wissahickon Avenue and Gypsy Lane in Philadelphia the next two weekends (March 6-7, March 13-14) for overhead construction on the Henry Avenue Bridge, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) said today.

The closure of Lincoln Drive over the next two weekends will run from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 p.m. Sunday as construction crews install safety netting and shielding on the underside of the 17-span Henry Avenue Bridge. A posted detour will take motorists over Wissahickon Avenue, School House Lane and Ridge Avenue while Lincoln Drive is closed.

This operation is part of PennDOT’s $10.6 million project to rehabilitate the Henry Avenue Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek and Lincoln Drive. Crews are working to replace sections of the deteriorated bridge deck; replace expansion joints and sidewalks; repair structural steel and areas of deteriorated concrete; improve drainage; and resurface the bridge deck.

Construction on the bridge began in April 2009 and is scheduled to finish in September 2011. The reinforced concrete arch bridge was built in 1932 and is 830 feet long and 87 feet wide.

Loftus Construction, Inc. of Cinnaminson, N.J. is the general contractor on the $10,699,000 project that is financed with 80 percent federal and 20 percent state funds.

PennDOT reminds motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions on major highways before heading out.

For more information, visit us through the Pennsylvania Homepage at www.state.pa.us or visit PennDOT directly at www.dot.state.pa.us