I use Strasburg Rd. from Parkesburg to West Chester. Not only is it inconvenient to not be able to use the bridge at Strasburg & Marshallton, but also most inconvenientis to not be able to use the Mortonville Bridge. It was fixed , and it has been closed down for months. Whatever they're doing on the Mortonville Bridge should have been completed when they were original working on the bridge. Typical PennDot error.

It's ridiculous how long it takes with all these projects. You can see how disorganized things are when you drive by. PennDot could give a crap about people's lives and stress levels. They were working on 4 bridges at one time that were affecting MANY western chester county and other people. The Mortonville Bridge took pathetically long to complete--and then they screwed up majorly and had it down for another 6 weeks. The Marshallton bridge screws up so many people and has been very poorly planned out. Who the hell is responsible for this mess? And the work on 322 was a joke in how long it took to complete. PennDot sucks.

This is such a short bridge, and it's been completely closed, so PennDOT doesn't have the excuse that they need to work around passing traffic. Why is it taking so long? Because they're PennDOT, that's why! (Insert your own stereotypical PennDOT joke here.) Remember how many YEARS it took them to rebuild the intersection of 322 Bypass and Business 322 in East Bradford?
Nobody is accountable, and they get paid by the hour. 'Nuff said!

Sage

The bridge is getting close to completion . We checked it out on Sunday and it is looking good. The completion date was the end of November,but the start date got delayed due to the work at the Sugar's Bridge intersection.
November is not over yet, but it looks more like a December completion.

I thought it was a private contractor doing the bridge ...not Penn Dot. I also thought that Private contractors get rewarded for finishing on time or early,so why would they delay getting the bridge done ?

Think of the poor people who live right there at the bridge ...the noise, dirt and travel time they must endure is must worse than our inconvenience.

When will there be progress and who do we write to to demand it?

the issue is that these guys don't work HARD enough. It's obvious just driving by. Most (not all) are not worth their daily hourly rate. It's a joke. The supervisors are obviously trying to stretch things out. Where's the freaking accountability?

Was supposed to be done in October, your right seems like no one is making much progress.

Plus you add the fact that most of the time it does not seem that anyone is working on the bridge.

Locals are saying MARCH now.... yes it is a private contractor that should be held accountable. I work for an exterior contractor and there are PLENTY of things one can do to keep working in the cold weather.. as well as incentives to keep them working OR charges TO THEM for inconviences

I agree- get this bridge open. It is such a hassle to reroute guests over the holidays when their gps says one thing and the detour doesn't show up. They should be paying the locals for the extra gas that we use going out of our way. Why isn't there any reports on the delay of this bridge being opened? Maybe we should protest.

The East Bradford website has a link to info on the bridge construction and JD Eckman Inc, the company doing the work. There is no updated info on completion date but I heard a rumor that it has been moved back to March. We had heavy flooding on the Brandywine this fall-worst I have seen since we moved here in 05 and maybe that has been a set back. Believe me I am not necessarily sympathizing with the company-I live just west of Marshalton and even a quick trip to the store makes one stop and rethink things as there is no quick trips anymore! Oh well at least I have learned to prioitize. Maybe we should all have a party down at the bridge when it re-opens....

Just checked Penn Dot's site and indeed the new completion date for Cope's Bridge is March 2011.
Let's hope!

People should call the company at (610) 593-5143 to complain. They have NO concern whatsoever how much this has screwed up people's commutes. They have no idea the stress it causes when folks are rushing to get to work late or get stuck in traffic. All of us, we should call the office to voice our complaints. Additionally, there are probably other avenues people can take to voice their disatisfaction. The web site is http://www.jdeckman.com/site. There is no reason this bridge should have taken well over a year--none.

MARCH??? @#%$!

What are they using for materials...gold?

How was this contractor selected, lowest price? I assume there is no penalty for finishing late or bonus for early completion.
Does PennDot rate their contractors for use in future work? I hope this contractor gets the lowest rating.
This must be costing commuters at least several tens of thousand dollars a day for wasted time and gas.

As the taxpayers we are the ones paying them. It seems like we should be able to insist on better accountability.

I don't think they want the bridge to re-open.

An inconvenience is an understatement. I think they're laying one rock a day.

It is not only the bridge at Strasburg and Creek, but it is also the closure of the bridge in Marshallton which makes the travel so difficult from points west. Why didn't they fix Strasburg and Creek bridge (whatever they are doing to the bridge now) when it was under construction the first time?

No kidding. I drive from WC to Downingtown at 5:15, and between the Strasburg Rd. bridge out and the new light at Sugar's Bridge, 322 is a parking lot at rush hour. For over a year! This really is unacceptable.

The People of Marshalton are probably trying to stop the construction so we can't drive through their town. Heck, they won't even fix their roads or sidewalks for their own residents because it would make it too appealing to "outsiders".

From www.eastbradford.org:

Copes Bridge Update
• Copes Bridge (the bridge over the Brandywine on Rt. 162), which has been closed since January of 2010 for major repairs and rebuilding, will hopefully be opening soon. The contractor has completed all of the rebuilding, but is currently waiting for the weather to stay over 45 degrees for several days so that they can pave the cart way. PennDOT requires the temperature to be over 45 degrees for any paving. Until that happens the bridge will continue to be closed.

When will the temps. be 45 degrees-in the spring? What about the Mortonville Bridge? When will that be open?

Well I guess if it needs to be 45 degrees for "several days" the odds of the bridge re-opening in March just went down . I am beginning to wonder what the next delay will be.....

Think Postive , Spruce 553 !! With the crazy weather we have been having , anything is possible ! Of course it could take a long time to get all the snow off to get it paved.

You're right Lyn, patience is a virtue! But this project is way overdue. My question is, why don't citizens have more pathways to demand accountability?

YOU are right lllluther, the project in WAY OVERDUE and why was it even started in the Winter in the first place ? But it was and now we will just have to wait for the 45 degree weather . Patience is a vitrue that is achieved at old age ,I think . : ) , so don't despair.... Spring will get here !

Previously stated..."Contractor is currently waiting for the weather to stay over 45 degrees for several days so that they can pave the cart way. PennDOT requires the temperature to be over 45 degrees for any paving." - if this is truly the case the no road work would be done in the winter and this same contractor just finished working on 202 and the weather was below 45.....hmmm (they sell winter additives)

Agree with this post! I think I may attend a township meeting and bring it up. It's taking far too long.

From DLN today "Bridge reconstruction workers laid a new road surface MONDAY atop Copes Bridge on Strasburg Road as repairs continue on the 204-year-old span over the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek.."
Guess they don't have to wait for 45 degrees as per the one post..

There was blacktpo on the bridge on Sunday ...maybe they put a 2nd coat on on Monday,so now ...Why isn't it opened ?

Does 'OPEN' under status mean this bridge is opened? I doubt it as I thought we were told that this bridge is to be opened in March. But...March, what year?

Hi Susan,

"Open" means that the Issue's status is open. This means that a resolution or fix has not been completed for this issue. When the status reads "Closed", then this means there was a resolution or fix for this issue. Hope this helps clarify things!

SeeClickFix Team

well, it is feb 27, 2011, and we are still driving around it. when, when, oh, when will we be able to use that bridge again?

Again, who is holding J.D. Eckman accountable?

Here, here! Who is holding J.D. Eckman accountable?

Operations
PLEASE PEOPLE--contact these guys. This company has done a terrible job at getting this done. Just terrible. No consideration for thousands of people negatively affected by their incompetence.

Bob Esposito Operations Manager besposito@jdeckmaninc.com
Chris Bunting Information Technology cbunting@jdeckmaninc.com
Dawn Mickel Subcontractor Coord. dmickel@jdeckmaninc.com
Sheena Topper Administrative Asst. stopper@jdeckmaninc.com

What do you plan to hold Eckman accountable for? And, trust me, nobody wants that bridge open more than I do! The first listing under PennDot's construction called for January 2010 to January 2011. That was for openers. Not many months later they opened it up as January 2010 to March 2011. If they had ANY smarts in writing the contract, Eckman or anybody else would have included a clause for "Acts of God" like floods, which happened. So, since they have all of March to go yet, and a built-in excuse for being late because of flood damage, who are you planning to string up and on what charge? Did they bust hump to make up the time? Nope. Do I want that bridge open a year ago? Sure. But raging against the contract is a waste of time unless it makes you really feel good. The company is within their rights. I don't like it but there it is.

Blanco73.. You've SEEN the contract? If you have then you must work for PenDot or JDE.
Pendot could hold JDE responsible under the liquidated damages clause (running over time) but only those that see the contract know the exact date of completion. Raging against a contract is not a waste of time if it holds the contractor liable for running over time. And as posted previously - had they researched the brandwine they would have stored their equipment a tad better....

I wrote to each one of them. Thanks for the addresses. Don't know if it helps, but I feel a little better!

March 2 now....hopefully re-opening is soon. Just as long as they don't close it again shortly afterwards, due to some historian demanding additional work, as what happened with the Mortonville bridge. If that happened, surely there would be a revolt!

The bottom line is that J.D. Eckman has failed miserably in this project. I've talked to many contractors. With better planning and harder work, this bridge could have been EASILY completed back in the Fall. If they tell you differently, or some ego-driven union guy comes on this forum and says otherwise--THEY ARE FULL OF CRAP.

They may get it open by April 1 but will they then close the road through Marshallton to work on the roads there. There is talk of that.

Just keep the Bridge Closed. Don't need more speeders in Marshalton!!!

Bridge is done - contractor doesn't have to open it until the 31st. I can't wait to drive through your quiet little town again!

Can't open soon enough for me. Driving Sugarsbridge Road is hazardous! Too many times I've met a 16-wheeler heading into Marshallton, misjudging his speed around the curves and forcing me off the road. SLOW DOWN AND WATCH WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Kudos to my neighbors on Sugarsbridge Road for graciously putting up with speeding traffic, dust and noise for over a year. You are why I love living in Marshallton!

Rodger...FYI...we don't want the speeders on our roads either !! Dangerous to walk our dog anymore ! Or ride horses. It was much better when the bridge was open ,so it can't open soon enought for me

This bridge in Mortonville was is suppose to be open at the end of March. Well...the month of March is almost over. And what about the opening of the bridge in Marshallton? Whose pockets are full of kickbacks?

Bridge opened afternoon of 3/31/11

When is the Mortonville bridge going to open?

Mortonville bridge opened last year. January 2010 I believe.

Now that this bridge is open,anyone notice how it now seems more narrow in width than before?Whoever designed it has total disregard for safety.No guardrails,speed limit change of signs,etc.Can 2 schoolbuses or 2 large trucks safely pass side by side ? It seems like only a matter of time before the 1st accident(s) occur.Wise -up PaDot & E.B.Twnsp. & get this fixed!