Crews began tree and brush clearing work on Monday
LOWER MAKEFIELD, Pa. -- Preparation work to make way for the construction of the new Scudder Falls Bridge began Monday, bridge officials said.
Crews began clearing trees, logs, dead trees and other vegetation and debris at certain sections on both sides of Interstate 95 between the Route 332 and Taylorsville Road in Lower Makefield, Pa.
Blackwood, N.J.-based A.P. Construction was awarded a $1.8 million contract in November.
The work will allow noise-reducing walls to be installed on the Pennsylvania side later this spring, officials said.
Other tree-clearing work on the New Jersey side is expected to take place in the fall.
The $328 million project, which involves a heavily commuted 4.4-mile portion of I-95, is now in the final design stage.
The existing span, which was built in 1959 and opened in 1961, was rated "functionally obsolete."
Construction is expected to begin in early 2017 on the new twin span between Lower Makefield, Pa., and Ewing and take up to four years to complete.
The replacement bridge would be an all-electronic "cashless" toll system. Drivers who don't use E-ZPass will get a bill in the mail. The toll will begin once the first span of the new bridge is opened to traffic.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
