Background
Ridge Pike is owned by Montgomery County from Philadelphia to Norristown. The section of Ridge Pike connecting Norristown to Plymouth Township is a busy commercial corridor with many driveways and delivery trucks. Traffic volumes approach 30,000 vehicles per day through this section. There are also two major bridges in this section that are in need of significant repairs and upgrades. The westernmost bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be reconstructed and widened to include new ramps for the proposed turnpike interchange. The adjacent bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad will also be completely reconstructed and widened to help accommodate turning lanes for the new interchange and to accommodate additional trackage as planned by the railroad.
In addition to the proposed turnpike ramps the project will need to coordinate with numerous utilities include a fuel pipeline within the project area. Sidewalks will also be added to the roadway and new bridges allowing safer and more convenient pedestrian activities along the corridor.
The engineering firm for Section A of the Ridge Pike Improvement project is Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. Founded in 1989, TPD is a multidisciplinary firm that include civil, site, construction services, environmental, landscape architecture and planning, structural, and transportation engineering services. For more information, visit https://www.trafficpd.com.
The Problems
- Old Bridges over the PA Turnpike and Norfolk Southern Railroad
- Roadway and drainage in poor condition
- Access for the new PA Turnpike Interchange
- Lack of sidewalks and bus stops
The Solutions
- Construct new bridges over the PA Turnpike and Norfolk Southern Railroad
- Full reconstruction of the roadway
- Widen roadway in preparation of proposed turnpike interchange
- Add sidewalks
Project Status
Section A is currently in Final Design and Right-of-Way acquisition. Coordination with the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Norfolk Southern Railroad as well as major utilities in the project area is ongoing. Construction is estimated to begin in 2024 and will take two years.
Public Involvement
Montgomery County staff from the Planning Commission and Roads & Bridges departments held the first public event during the design phase of Section A. Preliminary plans were displayed in 2021; this event allowed for the public to ask questions and make comments about the proposed improvements. The County will also hold an open house prior to the anticipated start of the construction phase in 2024. Materials from the first public meeting are posted below for reference purposes.
For questions or comments about the Ridge Pike Improvement Project, please contact Laureen Sendel-Grant at 610-278-3734.