Church Road Bridge Replacement Project

County: Northampton
Municipality: Plainfield Township
State Route: 1026
Local Name: Church Road 
Project Type: Bridge Replacement
MPMS Number: 12106
Proposed Construction Start: Summer 2027
Proposed Construction End: Summer 2028
Last Updated: August 2025

The project is in Plainfield Township, Northampton County and involves the replacement of the existing narrow-width bridge structure with a wider bridge on improved horizontal and vertical alignments. The project will also include minor approach roadway work. The existing SR 1016-02B structure over Tributary to Little Bushkill Creek is a concrete encased rolled steel I-Beam bridge on reinforced concrete abutments. The proposed replacement structure consists of prestressed spread box beams on reinforced concrete conventional abutments with a 43’-0” clear span and a minimum underclearance of 5.9’. The proposed curb-to-curb width is 27’-8” measured along the roadway with two 11’-0” lanes and two 2’-0” minimum shoulders. PA Type 10M Bridge Barriers will be provided on the structure and guiderails with safety end treatments will be provided on the roadway approaches to the bridge. The proposed bridge structure will improve hydraulic performance. Temporary construction easements will potentially be required as well as permanent right-of-way and channel easements.

The project will also involve full depth paving on the roadway approaches. To widen the travel way and improve the horizontal alignment, a splinter channel (Stream 2) re-entering just upstream of the bridge will need to be realigned as part of this project. The project is currently in preliminary design and is anticipated to be constructed during the 2027 and 2028 construction seasons. The structure will be replaced under detour. A Detour Map has been provided which shows the proposed detour length of 4.3 miles utilizing SR 1005, PA 512, and SR 1023 in Northampton County.

There are three wetlands identified within the project area. Wetland 1 is located at the upstream right in the channel of the pond spillway; Wetland 2 is located on the downstream left bank and Wetland 3 is located at the upstream left between the roadway and the splinter channel (Stream 2). The project will involve approximately 0.023 acres of temporary wetlands impacts and 0.014 acres of permanent wetlands impacts, subject to change as design progresses.

A PNDI search conducted by A.D. Marble on July 8, 2024, indicated a potential impact in the project area under the jurisdiction of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service. The project is in a known bog turtle county. A Phase 1 Bog Turtle Habitat Assessment was completed for the project area and no potential bog turtle habitat was observed within 300 ft of the project limits of disturbance.

Tributary to Little Bushkill Creek supports natural trout reproduction and will require an in-stream construction restriction from October 1 to December 31.

The anticipated Chapter 105 General Permit Type required for the project is a Joint Permit.