By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

For the thousands of residents of Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships who had traversed Route 100 south of Chadds Ford every week and have had their usual mapping routes realigned for the past 20 months, the South Creek Road Bridge will reopen on or about Nov. 14, following the completion of a $15.2 million investment to construct a more modern bridge.

The two-lane bridge over the Brandywine Creek and flood plain – which has been carrying traffic north and south since 1925 and goes over a one-track line of the East Penn Railroad - has been closed since April 1, 2024. The bridge begins from a mile-and-a-half south of Route 1 in mid-Chadds Ford and runs southward toward Delaware.

During its long life, the bridge has limited its load carrying capacity to vehicles -- and often more specifically, trucks – of 12-ton weight maximum and no trucks with trailers over 45 feet in length, except for local deliveries. In 2017, seeing that it needed to be upgraded to more modern standards, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation determined that it was time to replace it. The “six span” bridge, including its uprights that sit in the creek, all had to be rebuilt. In addition, the roadway over the train is held up by a concrete leg on one side and the land ridge on the other.

The structure type and alignment, as well as details regarding the structure’s appearance, were selected through an Alternatives Analysis of February 2017 and coordination with consulting parties that occurred from mid-2015 through late 2019, according to a press release from PennDOT.

During the closure, motorists have been directed to use U.S. 1 (Baltimore Pike), Route 52 (Kennett Pike), Center Meeting Road, and Delaware State Route 100 (Montchanin Road).

Bicyclists traveling Bike Route L were directed to use Bullock Road, Ring Road, Ridge Road and Delaware State roadway Smiths Bridge Road.

PennDOT announced in advance that the bridge’s reconstruction would be entirely federally funded - and would “ensure safe and efficient crossing for the traveling public.”

The new structure – which is being constructed by Haines & Kibblehouse, Inc. of Philadelphia - will be a six-span concrete arch bridge with two lanes and shoulders. The structure type and alignment, as well as details regarding the structure’s appearance, will include a new two-lane and slightly wider six-span pre-cast reinforced concrete arch bridge. In addition, the open steel bridge railing, with concrete pilasters at the piers, was chosen to allow scenic viewing. Other features include recessed panels, new signage, plaques and delineators.

The closure has affected two businesses.

The New Roots produce stand keeps presents its shelves and displays sumptuously stocked, selling fruits and vegetables from nearby farms, as well as non-food products that are related to the preparing and serving of vegetables.

New Roots has a loyal customer base, said Manager Donni Pinzone, but in the past two years, the difficulty in accessing the area because of the detours has led to a 30 percent drop in income for the business. In order to access the stand from the north, shoppers must travel a much longer route than before which travels over narrow and winding roads.

Pinzone said she has tried to help by describing the best detours on the stand’s website and yet, as she describes her customer base from the north of the creek, she said, “It’s so close, but so far. … I have been thrilled that they came that far.”

Skirting the side of the produce stand are the tracks for the East Penn train, that travels to and from Wilmington several times a week. Trainmaster Randy Miller said there was only one day during the construction that the train could not travel the route.

“That was the day they totally demolished the bridge,” he said.

There has been work on the south end of the bridge in the area where the train travels, but Miller said they give a call to the workers when the train is about to leave the Pocopson station. A flagger then stops work temporarily as the train goes by, he said.

Pinzone said she and her staff are always happy to see the train as it goes by.

“We love them all, and we throw them fruit. We throw an apple to [the engineer],” she said.

Dan Leader, the owner/operator of Leader Sunoco gas station along Route 1 north of the bridge construction, said he does not hear much complaining about the detours, but people are saying they are happy they are ending soon.

“They are bothered, but they are also putting up with it,” he said.