Churchtown Road Over Little Conestoga Creek

County: Lancaster
Municipality: Caernarvon Township
State Route: Route 1044
Local Name: North Churchtown Road
Project Type: Bridge Replacement
MPMS Number: 101018
Proposed Construction Start: Spring 2027
Proposed Construction End: Fall 2027
Last Updated: June 2025

Project Information

The Route 1044 (North Churchtown Road) bridge replacement project is located over Little Conestoga Creek in Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County, northwest of Churchtown, Pennsylvania.   

The purpose of this project is to address structural deficiencies of the bridge and provide a continued safe and efficient crossing of Route 1044 over Little Conestoga Creek.

The project consists of replacing the existing steel rolled I-beam bridge with a precast concrete spread box beam bridge, along with roadway improvements to the shoulders and replacement of existing guiderail. The new bridge will be placed in a similar location as the existing structure and will allow for two 10-foot travel lanes and two 2-foot shoulders.

Environmental

The project is located northeast of New Holland in a rural community and surrounded by residential and agricultural properties. There are no existing pedestrian or bicycle facilities. No wetlands or threatened or endangered species were found to be in the area. No hazardous waste sites were found in the area. An existing property was found to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (Resource 2019RE15972). Coordination is ongoing with the PennDOT District 8 Cultural Resource Professionals and PA State Historic Preservation Office for an Effects Determination.

Due to the property's NRHP eligibility, it is therefore considered a Section 4(f) resource. During construction a Temporary Construction Easement will be required within the NRHP boundary. The project meets the criteria of Temporary Occupancy under Section 4(f) due to the need for 1,525 square feet of temporary construction easement, and PennDOT intends to make a Section 4(f) Temporary Occupancy finding.

Utilities

There are existing cable and telephone overhead utility facilities west of the structure and that cross Route 1044 (North Churchtown Road) south of the structure. Coordination will be required for crane operations during construction due to the proximity of the overhead utility lines or a temporary relocation during construction will be required.

Right of Way

Temporary construction easements will be needed in all four quadrants around the bridge to allow for contractor access, excavation, and erosion and sedimentation controls. Permanent right-of-way acquisitions are anticipated to encompass the extents of the proposed bridge. Slope easements will also be required to encompass the proposed roadway slopes.

Maintenance and Protection of Traffic

The bridge and roadway will be closed for approximately three months to all traffic during construction. The proposed detour route will use Route 23 (Main Street) to Route 625 (Reading Road).

Schedule and Cost

Construction is anticipated during the spring/summer of 2027 at an estimated construction cost of $1.8 million.